The KISS Approach - Keep It Simple & Start

I’ve never really made it a point to set aside time at the end of the year to reflect on the year that was, I’ve always been more excited to bet thinking of the year head & setting new goals. But I’ve realised that in spending some time reflecting on certain experiences & expressing my gratitude for things that have happened, I am better prepared to know how to set my goals for the year ahead, and most importantly the key steps to take in achieving them. Because we all know the saying “If nothing changes, nothing changes”, right? Well it’s true. Every year I’ve said – “By Christmas next year, things are going to be completely different”, and typically some things are different, but some things that I have wanted to change, haven’t changed. So, this is why I’ve taken the time to reflect on the year so far before it slides away again into next year, focusing on the great bits, and learning what to change and how to change it. And I’ve decided to keep this process VERY simple. If it’s too complicated I just won’t do anything about it.
So here’s my version of “Reflecting on 2013 so far – the simple way”.

Step 1:

Write down 10 things that you did an awesome job of in the last 5 months. They don’t have to be huge things, just the first 10 things that pop into your head. (I struggled to give myself credit after the first couple of things but then got into the swing of it when I wasn’t being so fussy). Remember those moments, how did you feel when you achieved each of those things?
Now draw a line down your page to make another column & up the top, write “Do I want to do more of this in 2013?” Then write next to each achievement YES or NO.

Step 2:
Write down 10 things that you had a whole heap of fun doing in the last 5 months. Those moments that either REALLY made you “LOL”, things that give you a real buzz, things that have you doing a happy dance, or give you that warm & fuzzy feeling inside. Remember those moments, I bet you’re really smiling by now
Now draw a line down your page to make another column & up the top, write “Do I want to do more of this in 2013?” Then write next to each item YES or NO.

Step 3:
Write down 10 things that you are really grateful for that happened throughout 2012. The experiences that really make your heart sing. The moments that you are so glad they happened. The things that you give the most thanks for.
Now draw a line down your page to make another column & up the top, write “Do I want to do more of this in 2013?” Then write next to each item YES or NO.

Are you starting to see a pattern here? When you look through each of these lists, do you see some of the same items appearing on all 3 lists? Maybe there’s a lot of experiences or items that appear on all 3 lists? For me, all 10 things on each of the 3 lists were either exactly the same moment or experience, or they were very closely linked.

So now you can see that of all of the things that happened throughout 2012, which ones were the most important.

And do you want to do more, be more & have more of those? Yes please!

So there’s a good place to start in setting your goals for the rest of 2013.

Now how do you go about reaching those new goals in 2013?

Well, just look at the list of things you’ve created in 2012, pull any on of those items off the list and break it down – what made you decide you wanted to achieve that particular thing?

What were the steps you took to work towards it?

What obstacles came up & how did you overcome them? Did you have to make any sacrifices to achieve it?

What changes or alterations to your plan did you make, in order to achieve the goal?

And then finally, how did it feel when you did achieve it?

By now you’re well on track to achieving your goals in 2013 & I’d love to hear how you go with them.

Share with me what some of your Top 10 moments were for the last and what you’re goals are for 2013.

Make the rest of 2013 it the best year yet – you absolutely can.
ching ching cheers
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