‘Tis the season for commencement ceremonies and graduation celebrations. These events mark the transition as one chapter closes and another one opens. As such, it’s a time when advice giving is ritualized in the form of keynote speeches, greeting card sentiments, and hearing stories of “back in the day” from those who have already walked the path.
At times like these, those of us who are older and (allegedly) wiser are encouraged to reflect on our journey and share what we’ve learned with young people as they leave school and enter the “real world”.
It got us thinking… Maybe we could all benefit from dedicated times to reflect on where we’ve been, what we’ve learned, and where we’re going. Maybe more regular reflection would help us face the future with sharper focus and intention. After all, just because we have reached a certain age, doesn’t mean we’re done learning.
Unfortunately, we tend to wait until there is a major life change before we stop and take stock of our journey. But that doesn’t have to be the case. We encourage you to engage in reflection on a regular basis even when life is status quo.
Here are a few activities to help you harness the wisdom you carry within you so that you can continue gathering insights and progressing toward your goals.
Set a date every year and write a keynote address to yourself. What has the past year taught you? What would you do differently? What would you repeat?
Recall the first time you felt successful as a leader or entrepreneur. Maybe it was your first customer or first paycheck. How did that feel? What from that moment do you want to keep with you in the present? Perhaps it’s a sense of optimism and a can-do attitude or the excitement and energy that comes with tasting your potential.
Remember that young people are wise in their own ways. Take yourself back to those first moments of success. What advice would your younger self give to you now about how you are living life or managing your business?
If reflecting back on a whole year feels overwhelming, try reflecting back on the past month or week. What are you proud of? What are you grateful for? What are you learning?
With all this retrospection, remember that the goal is not to chastise yourself for any shortcomings. The purpose is to keep you in “student mode” where you are continually learning, growing, and seeing the possibilities for yourself.
Reach out and share with us what you’ve picked up along the way. We’d love to learn from you, too!
Image by MD Duran