Taking Stock

C4E5285F0FI’m starting a new year-end tradition this year. Taking stock of what I’ve accomplished throughout the year and the things I’ve learned. We forget what we’ve achieved over the last twelve months and how far we’ve come if we don’t take the time to think about it and write it down. Did you give a presentation despite your fear of public speaking? Did you reconnect with an old friend? Did you take up exercise or land a new client? Reflecting on the past year can also help pinpoint areas for improvement. If you felt overwhelmed by email, you might want to create a microresolution to clean your inbox at the end of every day, etc. Finally, having a record will allow you to look back over the years and see all the little and big things you’ve accomplished and the progress you’ve made.

Too often, we focus on what we didn’t manage to do (lose the weight, keep the house clean, be on time) and commit to doing better in the new year. After taking stock, I realized that while I didn’t quite reach my goal of financial freedom, I did made a lot of progress in this area and am well on my way. There are lots of little steps involved in achieving a big goal. Celebrate them. Maybe you had a really difficult year and came through with grace. That’s worth acknowledging.

Wishing you a most excellent 2016!