By design, I am driven by achievement. I want to have done things as badly as I want to do them. I focus consciously on the joy of the journey, but get my sense of self from the destinations I arrive at.
I write endless lists and love checking boxes. I see myself looking back at me when my children return from overseas with talk, not of life experience, but of countries ticked off.
I should, then, love the achievement of another year, something fulfilled, finished, scratched off the list.
Perhaps I felt this way in my youth. Now, at 42, with children I physically look up to, the end of every year is a reminder only of a life whirring past.
December is the month I like the least, irrespective of the joy or accomplishment of the year it marks the end of. January, for all the promise of a new year and the fact I spend it at the beach, is my favourite month.
So how do I make the most of my least favourite time of year?
December is a time not just for present buying and tree decorating, but for doing a business performance review to work out what was good in the past year and how to plan for more of it. It also provides an opportunity to work out what didn’t pan out so well and make plans to keep those things to a minimum in the brand new year to come.
Of course, while doing my business performance review I get to check off my annual goals against reality and that can be a huge laugh or a moment of quiet satisfaction, usually both. I long ago learnt that changing your mind as you go is perfectly wonderful and goals unmet fall neatly into this perspective.
I usually don’t write my new goals for the following year until I feel the January sun on my shoulders, but spend December looking back on the fortunes of the year and setting a general course for the next year for myself, my children and my business interests.
I write and speak frequently of the notion of re-imagining our own futures and this word elicits a greater response from people than any other word I am aware of.
Along with the reality check of the December reminder of a life whirring past, this is the chance to pause and celebrate with those you love and be excited by the prospect of January and the opportunity it brings for starting anew.
Spend December re-imagining. And think big.
“ I usually don’t write my new goals for the following year until I feel the January sun on my shoulders, but spend December looking back on the fortunes of the year and setting a general course for the next year for myself, my children and my business interests. ”
Karen Morath of M Power consults, trains, speaks and coaches in public relations, personal effectiveness, life balance and all things empowering.
