She Strengthens

Reflecting on the Past: A Catalyst for Future Success

As the year draws to a close, I find myself drawn to introspection, reliving memories and reassessing goals. While I don’t make New Year’s resolutions, I appreciate the opportunity to scrutinize my progress and identify areas for improvement.

The Dark Side of New Year’s Day

We often focus on the positive aspects of the past year, highlighting our achievements and glossing over our shortcomings. However, it’s essential to confront our failures, acknowledging what went wrong and how we can learn from those experiences. By doing so, we can transform our mistakes into valuable lessons, providing a solid foundation for future growth.

Confronting Failure: A Personal Journey

In 2014, I took a hard look at myself, recognizing that I had failed to accomplish several goals, including learning a second language and saving a significant amount of money. Admitting my own culpability in these failures was difficult, but necessary. I realized that my smug attitude towards finances had held me back from pursuing more ambitious goals.

A Shift in Perspective

In 2015, I made a conscious effort to change my approach. I began “paying myself” by treating my future self as a priority, ensuring that I had enough money set aside for savings and discretionary spending. This simple adjustment allowed me to grow my savings and develop a more responsible attitude towards money.

The Importance of Small Steps

I also learned the value of incremental progress, rather than trying to make drastic changes. By setting up automatic contributions to a tax-free savings account, I established a sustainable savings routine. This approach helped me avoid the pitfalls of crash diets and instead, built a solid foundation for long-term financial growth.

Identifying Areas for Improvement

While I made significant progress in 2015, I still fell short in certain areas. My inability to acquire new skills, particularly in learning French, held me back from reaching my full potential. Recognizing this failure has motivated me to take a more proactive approach to learning and personal development.

The Power of Blunt Assessments

By confronting our failures and shortcomings, we can make meaningful adjustments and improvements. While nostalgic reflections can be enjoyable, they often lack the depth and insight needed to drive real change. As I look back on 2016, I want to be proud of more than just the highlights – I want to be satisfied with the progress I’ve made towards becoming a better version of myself.