3 questions to ask yourself before 2015
We’re almost to the end of 2014 and, if your life is anything like mine, the bustle of the holidays has reached fever pitch. As this year rushes to an end, I find myself looking back and evaluating the ups and downs of the past twelve months. Maybe you do the same?
While there are many areas of life where we can find ourselves introspective, today I’d like to share three questions to ask yourself as you look back and ahead.
What was my greatest success?
It is important for us to celebrate what went well. As I look back at 2014 I see several accomplishments and areas where I have grown. While we can always point out our own failures, far too often we are less than capable of seeing what we have done well. Take some time to review what goals you achieved, what dreams you chased, and what small steps you took. I had several big personal dreams reached this year. But definitely speaking at She Speaks was the highlight! The opportunity to encourage other writers and to connect with women who have the same dreams and desires as me was incredible.
What lessons did I learn?
Identifying what we’ve learned helps us push forward. Often the lessons learned stem from what we didn’t get right — and that’s okay. But even with those failures we can find opportunities to improve and grow. For example, this year marked the third year in a row I overestimated how much time I would have for blogging in June and July. I promised my readers more than I could realistically accomplish. So, next year, I’m setting a lower expectation for those months and planning ahead more so there are posts ready for the days when I’m too busy to write.
What matters most?
While the quick answer might be family, take some time to ponder this question. Look at the season of life you are in and what changes may be coming in the year ahead. Yes, family matters, but as our children get older the way that looks in daily life can change … and it affects the other areas of our lives as well. But also, take time to apply this question specifically to your blog. For example, what area do you want to focus on most during 2015? Perhaps you want to write more consistently or develop a better strategy with Pinterest. Maybe you want to work harder at SEO or building internal links. Figure out where you will focus and then learn as much as you can about achieving your goal in that area.
As you take time to reflect on 2014 and look ahead to 2015, I hope these three questions can guide you to a meaningful understanding of what you gained this year.
Share with us: What was your greatest success in 2014?
