Have you ever used reflection questions to know if you've had a meaningful year? Use the questions below for self-reflection about the past year and the beautiful year to come!
While trying to balance your personal life and career, you rarely get time to reflect on your life using reflection questions.
Reflection involves examining your emotions, thoughts, actions, past resolutions, long- and short-term goals, and challenges. It's simple: plan for the next year by examining what you've experienced in the past year.
Asking yourself reflection questions at the end of the year is crucial because it helps you to:
- Determining what you are enthusiastic about and what makes you happy
- Exploring how you can respond better to challenging and stressful situations in the future
- Recognize your mistakes so you can learn from them and improve yourself as a person in the coming year
- Examine the skills and knowledge you have acquired in the past year
- Reflect on your victories and beautiful moments and celebrate them
The great thing about reflecting is that you don't necessarily have to do it at the end of the year. You can do it now and use the remaining days of the year to determine your New Year's resolutions, New Year's resolutions, and your associated strategy for addressing them.
Before you start reflecting, you need to set the mood. Sit in a comfortable space with good music and a view. Relax your mind and body before answering the 11 reflection questions below.
What big mistake did I make this year? What lesson have I learned from this experience?
The lesson will help you better manage the situation if it happens again in the next year. Analyze your mistakes and find out what you learned from that experience. This will help you grow and approach other situations with a unique perspective and attitude.
What ten things am I grateful for this year?
Gratitude is a powerful tool when you have a positive mindset want to keep. Practicing gratitude automatically makes mind and body feel calm, happy, and content. With all the chaos and changes happening within the year, we rarely have time to practice gratitude. What are you grateful for every day? The answer to this reflection question is all you need to feel calm and happy with your experiences over the past year.
What is my favorite memory this year?
As you answer this reflection question, examine what makes this memory stand out. Is it linked to your emotion, a person or the experience? Is this emotion negatively or positively associated with it? If it's negative, make sure you don't experience it again next year. If it's positive, you should figure out how to recreate this memory.
Is my current situation better than five years ago?
Time makes so much difference in our lives, both big and small. Even if it seems like time has stood still, your answer to this question will let you know that you've made progress over the past five years.
At this point, you may not have achieved what you planned. Don't measure your success in terms of money or wealth. You may have taken on a better personality or attitude that will help you approach situations better and push you to reach your goals this coming year!
What five things do I want to do more next year?
Living in hectic 24 hours a day leaves little time to do things we enjoy. Making a list of the things you enjoy doing and incorporating them into your routine for the next year can help make this achievable. Don't forget to make time for what and who makes you happy. All the work and no fun will leave you feeling dull and uninspired.
What five things do I want to achieve next year? How can I do this?
There is a strong connection between your answer to this reflection question and your good intentions for the coming year. When you map out your goals for the coming year, you want to touch all aspects of your life, namely: personal life, health, spirituality, personality, social life, career, family and finances. Once you have clear goals for the year, create a system that will help you achieve those goals. This plan will help you create a system that will make it easier for you to achieve your goals. Create a system by:
- List your goals, both short and long term
- Create a system with deadlines to give you the extra drive to work directly on your goals
- Track your progress, your habits and evaluate yourself
What thoughts are holding me back from achieving my goals?
The process of achieving your goals starts in your head. Your thoughts are powerful because they influence your actions, health and drive. Hold on to negative baggage that makes you think you're goals can't reach?
Protect your mind by giving it positive thoughts that help you maintain a positive perspective on life. Be more aware and work on your self-sabotage patterns. Create a mindfulness routine with meditation, yoga, exercises and asking yourself reflection questions.
Which self-help books have I read this year?
With everything going on in the world, we hardly get time to read books and improve ourselves. Learning is a continuous process. There is always room for improvement in your life. Don't limit your knowledge. Before you start reading a book, write down any aspects of your life that you think need a little improvement.
Make a list of self-help books that can help you overcome your shortcomings. Apply this knowledge in your life and keep growing. Alternatively, you can form a book club with people you know to make sure you stay consistent and enjoy reading.
How did I use my personal or free time?
Think about how you have used your free time over the past year. Are you happy with it? Have you been given enough time to rest? Did you feel more tired than before you spent your free time?
While it is advisable to relax in your free time, you can decide to use this time to build up your projects. You can enroll in a short online course, sharpen your skills, meditate, focus on starting a “side business” or even build a closer relationship with your loved ones during this time. Do what makes you happy and relaxed.
What is your intention for the coming year?
An intention will guide your actions throughout the year. The answer to this reflection question will help you know where to focus your energy as you achieve your goals. An intention keeps your attitude in check and makes it easier to achieve your goals faster and better.
Finally about self-reflection
The new year is full of endless possibilities. Don't dwell on negative thoughts and outcomes. Keep a positive attitude and believe that you will achieve your New Year's resolutions in 2022.
Sources including Develpreneur (link), fuzu (link), Medium (link), Tim (link)
