“Who you were, who you are, and who you will be are three different people”
~Unknown
Wisdom is one of the most important qualities to embrace because it gives us the opportunity to see, understand, and live our lives as a whole, not in part. As the year closes, there is wisdom to be gained from our experiences. Every good, bad, and ugly situation will teach you something, if you are willing to learn.
Here are two activities to help you embrace wisdom this month:
#1: Reflect On Your Year
Was 2019 really the year you thought it would be? I encourage you to reflect on your year. Here are five questions to get you started:
- What did you celebrate this year? (What did you achieve and are most proud of?)
- Is everything you focused on this year bringing you closer to the life you want to live?
- What is one thing you would change about this year?
- What did you learn about yourself and others this year?
- What obstacles or challenge did you overcome this year?
And the questions could go on. Remember, look back only to learn and not to get stuck in what was or could have been. Need help with this? Get my Life Audit Workbook to help you organize your thoughts about where you’ve been, where you are now, and where you want to go in 2020. Even if you have already completed the Life Audit last year, it could be interesting to see how far you’ve come.
#2: Take Care of Yourself: Dear Future Me…
December is a time of reflection. While looking towards the new year and all its possibilities is a good thing, let’s not forget the present and focus on finishing this year well. One way to do this is to reflect on the lessons you’ve learned and the areas in which you have gained wisdom.
If you are familiar with the Serenity Prayer, then you will know that it talks about the things you can and cannot control. Wisdom comes in knowing the difference between the two and being brave enough to change the things that are in your control – which is usually your thoughts, attitudes, and behaviors.
Try this: Take a moment and think about not only 2019, but this past decade. Ask yourself…
- What have you learned?
- How have you grown?
- Where do you still struggle?
- What do you wish you would have done differently?
After your reflection, write a letter to your future self recalling the lessons you’ve learned and how to live differently in 2020. The wisdom you’ve gained will help you through the next year and beyond. Keep this somewhere where you will see it throughout the year as a reminder. Perhaps get a journal for the new year and let this letter be the introduction to your life in 2020.
Cheers to you, my courageous friend! You’ve made it through another year! Here’s to finishing 2019 well and looking forward to the new possibilities that await!