End of The Year Reflection

End of the year brings so many different emotions, and one of them is the feel of heaviness from unfulfilled aspirations, unachieved goals. From my personal experience I can tell, that high achievers might get into a pitfall of thinking that "what's done is not enough" way too easy...

"Plans were so grand and I'm nowhere near to be done! Can the year wait for a bit longer before end?! Like just a couple weeks, so I can feel better about myself..."

I've been walking that path year after year, missing and changing my targets, forgeting what's already been done, postponing deadlines, because there was always something more important in the mean time! And then feeling drained, somewhat lied to and disappointed with myself toward the end of yet another year.

Are you familiar with these feelings?

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After a while I've had enough and started observing myself, my friends, colleagues and listening to my teacher's and other people stories. I have noticed a pattern, certain stages, that if they were present, people managed to get where they were going. If at least one of the stages was missing, alignment didn't happen and aspirations were not achieved.

So today I will share it with you and offer you to reflect on each of the stages, to understand what could have happened in your case and what you can improve going forward. And who knows, maybe even complete 2024 on a high note if you are not feeling that way yet ;)

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Stage 1. The Story of My Life

This stage has a lot of names, meanings, talks about it today, but if we were to look at its core it would feel somewhat like this: Remind yourself what story about you and the world you tell yourself in quiet?

It is your mindset, your inner dialogue, beliefs, subconscious. It's what runs the show even when you are not looking. Automatic reactions, behaviours - it all is fuelled by that your inner story that you not only tell yourself, but also live by.

→ So, in regards to the aspirations you had for this year, what is your story? Write it down. Does it support you on your way or takes you a few steps back the minute you take your eyes off the goal?

Stage 2. Purpose

Do you know your purpose? Do you live and breathe it? Or maybe you don't believe in its existence?

When I was hairdressing and clients told me that they don't care what I'll do to their hair (because they trust me) I would almost always suggest shaving it off. Not because it's cool, but because they had an opinion and a certain aspiration, that didn't want to share beforehand for some reason.

Same here. You can't not live your purpose, it's stronger than you and always calls you. Otherwise how would you know that something doesn't feel right in your life?

→ So for this stage reflect on what relationship with your purpose do you have?

Stage 3. Confident Actions

Have to say that without first two stages figred out this one might be useless by itself. You might confidentely walk into the Story of Your Life where you can not achieve what you so hard trying to! Or quickly and abruptly walk away from yourself, feeling even more lost in the end.

But also, without the guidance of the first two stages all your actions might be just too hesitant, too small or non existent, waiting for a better moment...

→ So what to reflect on? What actions did you take? Were they confident and inspiring? Did they build more confidence in you evey time you did something? Or were they draining and lead you to unfulfilled end of the year?

Stage 4. I'm not sure what to call it, but will go with the popular Emotional Intelligence

I came to realisation that emotions are the fuel for everything in our life. What emotions do we let to fuel our dreams, ideas? What emotions fuel your actions every day?

Do you hate what needs to be done? Do you doubt your idea? Or maybe you regret not doing something earlier? What fuel you are using to go forward? How far do you think it will take you?

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I have seen how people built beautiful things and businesses, moved to places they wanted to be for so long, and whenever these things were happening, all four stages were present in one way or the other. Not always consciously, not always to the best, but they were there.

And vice versa if something was missing, like The Story wasn't aligned, or no purpose to be seen, everything else was falling apart. Attempts were only bringing another load of pain and sometimes it was painful to even look at.

I was there myself, I remember how it felt & today I'm with you reflecting on each of those stages to ensure that my next move will bring me even more fulfilment in life ♡

Share in the comments what stage have you under-looked and what will you do to improve that?

Until the next time,

Renata Dar

C O N N E C T