Let’s be honest for a minute: 2020. What started with “roaring twenties” energy, quickly became a year characterized by unforeseen circumstances and uncontrollable changes. Memories canceled, jobs disrupted, national crises, rhythms unraveled and all-around disappointments are likely a few of the things that probably come to mind when you hear “twenty-twenty.” While there were multiple pleasant surprises and surely good that came this calendar year, it’s often hard to remember or cherish those bright moments in light of the countless “negatives” that will forever be associated with this trip around the sun.
If you are like us, 2021 symbolizes a fresh start filled with renewed optimism. We all know that one day won’t immediately undo the continued impact of the current year’s events, and yet it’s normal to anticipate positive change. While it’s no doubt easier, and quite frankly, more enjoyable, to focus on hopes and expectations for the future, it’s important to take a moment and reflect on THIS year. Here at Bloom Talent, we believe strongly in the process of reflection and the power that it can have in our lives. (Read more about its importance here.) For us, the last few weeks of the year are the perfect invitation to pause, define the good and bad of this year, identify learnings, and make a plan to carry the takeaways forward. These foundational practices (and helpful tips!) below will hopefully guide you as you perform your own reflection and answer the question: “where do I go from here?”
Exercising Honesty + Empathy
Before you begin the deep work of processing and reflecting on the many facets of 2020, it’s important to recognize the value of processing with honesty. Your ability to evaluate your wins and your shortcomings in full transparency will serve as your greatest tool for planning ahead. While it’s okay to have grace for yourself (we’ll talk about that one in just a minute), holding a critical eye to your strengths and weaknesses, wins and missed opportunities and all that this year held will serve you much better down the road than a quick analysis now. No doubt you’ve done some incredible things this year as well, so be honest and call out those successes too!
In addition to our belief that honest analysis is essential to a successful reflection activity, in a year like 2020, it’s especially important to also be kind to yourself. Many of our original goals, plans and overall expectations for this year were limited and diminished by circumstances out of our control. As you look back on the year, don’t forget that you managed to keep going despite chaos happening around you, a huge kudos in our book. It’s completely normal to have had a lower emotional and mental capacity given the toll this year had on all of us. So as you process with honesty, be sure to remember that this year was unlike any other, providing you plenty of reasons to exercise empathy and grace.
Processing & Reflecting
With these filters at the forefront of your mind, it’s time to take a look at 2020. Processing and reflecting on the year looks different for everyone, and while there isn’t an exact formula we find it helpful to start with some basic questions. Ask yourself about the positives and negatives of your year. Write down your accomplishments and areas where you’ve noticed a need for improvement. Document your hobbies and new rhythms. Make note of the overall changes to your regular routine or schedule. Try dividing your reflection into buckets: professional, personal, physical, etc. And don’t forget to process the emotional side of things! Prompts like “This year I felt _____” and “I needed more of ____ this year” are great ways to acknowledge your holistic health and complete a full analysis. There isn’t a time rule for reflection, but we encourage you to put in the work, engage an external voice if needed, and take time to reflect on 2020.
Moving Forward with Goal Setting
After you’ve processed this past year (with honesty and empathy) it’s time for the fun part: goal setting! Experts believe that there is strong scientific evidence supporting the link between goal setting and success, and we couldn’t agree more. In order to manifest the 2021 you want, goal definition is key. Instead of asking yourself vague and open-ended questions, start with the foundation you have already created. Look back at your 2020 reflection and use those notes to draft your 2021 goals. For example, if you are creating a professional goal, try to define 1 or 2 items you would like to add to your articulated skillset. Think about your professional dreams and write down smaller accomplishments (i.e. goals) needed to get you there. There are countless resources on goal setting (including this helpful blog entry) so despite the fact that only you can define your goals, you aren’t alone in the process.
When you take the time to write down clearly defined goals you are much more likely to carry them into 2021, jump-starting an accomplished year ahead. After a year like 2020, we all deserve the dedicated time to take a step back, honestly reflect on this year, and dream big (with achievable benchmarks) about the possibilities that this new year can bring!
We are rooting for you. Cheers to 2021.