Let's End 2021 on a high note
Wrap up the current year and set goals for the upcoming one with a personal annual review.
Hello lovely friend
Whew, an entire year has gone by.
At the beginning of this year, I was wondering how I will keep working at a job I no longer had any passion for. Now, I’m a full-time writer, living in a brand new city with some amazing friends. The year turned my life around, and yet, when I look ahead into 2022, there are so many more dreams to conquer and goals to achieve.
At the end of every year, I do a personal annual review that helps me wrap up the year in style and prepare for the upcoming days ahead. In 2021’s last edition of Be Your Best Friend with Anangsha, I want to share some prompts to do your own annual review.
Are you ready for it?
You will need a pen and a piece of paper for this exercise. If you need to take a printout of this, feel free to send me an email requesting one, and I will send it to you as a printable worksheet. You can make notes on your phone too if you feel lazy.
All set? Let's start!
Part One
What are the 3 biggest hurdles you faced in the past year?
a.
b.
c.
How did you find a way out of these obstacles?
a.
b.
c.
Do you see a recurring thread tying up all three in question 2, above? For example, was it your courage that helped? Or, maybe, your perseverance or resilience? Keeping that in mind, what are the top 3 qualities in yourself you are proud of-
a.
b.
c.
How did these obstacles change you as a person? Or - what is the biggest lesson you learned from them?
a.
b.
c.
What are the top 3 happiest memories of the year?
a.
b.
c.
What is the one thing you learned about YOURSELF this year?
When was the last time you tried something out of your comfort zone? How did that change you as a person?
What is the biggest change in yourself you see in yourself in 2021 compared to 2020?
Part Two
The above was like a review of the year gone by. I hope it helped you ask some important questions to yourselves and learn some pertinent truths about how you are as a person.
Once we have done that, let us proceed on how to make the most of the upcoming year. The following questionnaire might be difficult and I implore you to spend some time thinking about each question before you answer them.
Have you figured out what you want to do for the rest of your life?
What are the top 3 skills you learned in the past year that will help you in your chosen path? (If you haven't figured out what you want to do yet, relax. Instead, write down the top 3 most useful skills that you picked up over the past year)-
a.
b.
c.
If you keep going at your current pace, how long will it take to reach your goal (if you have one)?
Have you found your own voice or do you believe it is important to agree with what the crowd is saying?
How willing are you to try something out of your comfort zone?
Are you in control of your life or are you being controlled by someone else?
I hope this small exercise was as big an eye-opener for you as it was for me.
In case your answers to the above questions made you feel sad, please don't blame yourself. This guilt is a sign that you are willing to change. Celebrate that about yourself and don't let anything else dim your flame.
2022 is a brand new year filled with uncountable possibilities. It is up to you to make the most of them, and trust me, I will help you.
Together, let us make the upcoming year OUR year.
If you’re like to read a detailed account of how I do my annual review and what helps me answer these questions better, I’ve written an article about personal annual reviews. Read it here.
Homework for today?
Reply to this email with some kind words if the review prompts helped you. This would help me gain some insights as well as build confidence in my writing.
If you’ve ever dreamed of being a full-time writer, there cannot be a better time than NOW to start! To help people become highly paid writers, I’ve launched a FREE 5-day course just for you.
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That’s all from my end today. I’ll see you again soon. Till then, stay strong. Keep smiling and be awesome.
With love,
Anangsha.