EOY - Review & Renew Process (personal)

“The ships are in the harbor, resting from the sea; here to make repairs, restock supplies, break bread with old friends, and plan for their next brilliant adventure.”

With every change of season comes an opportunity.

An opportunity to reflect and re-engage.

The end of year seems to be one of those recurring moments for many.

New Year’s resolutions come quickly for some, as they reactively look at where they are and where the idealize themselves on the other side of the goals, they will anxiously set for themselves.

We also know the quickness of inconsistency and lack of courage and commitment to honor those changes that seemed so significant at the time of making.

Perhaps there’s a different way we could go about this process.

As I reflect personally on my own history with end of year goal setting, I’ve thought about a process that requires a little more effort and intention.

So…with that intro, this is the framework I’ve come up with and that I’ll be implementing over the next few days.

My only desire around this framework is that it will challenge me to be honest and clear with myself and others, in the courageous pursuit of new growth and habits aligned with progress. May it also provide a reference point for this process one year from now.

  4-Part Framework:

 1 - REFLECT

2 - CHOOSE

3 - ENGAGE

4 - UNLOCK

Before I begin this process I will engage God, and renew my desire for His partnership in ALL things.

REFLECT:

1.     Pray for God to help you see, and recognize, what worked and didn’t work in 2024. Don’t rush this part of the process. Consider the WHO’s, WHAT’s, and WHY’s of your year. Take note of the highs and lows: moments of great JOY and moments of confusion and fear. Explore the full dynamic range of the year’s events that have led you to now.

2.     Write these things down in a FRESH JOURNAL, that will be your personal workspace in 2025.

3.     Physically look in the mirror. Do you see who you want to see? Are you willing to have a conversation with yourself about what you are learning and how you are honoring your word and intent?

 4.     Leaning on my work with the High Performance Institute, I like this Life Arenas assessment.

(Grade yourself on a scale of 1-10 in the following categories (10 meaning you’ve got things dialed in this area of your life, 1 meaning there’s almost no presence or focused activity in that area - pick the number that best represents where you are at today)):

Health:  ______

I feel that my overall physical and emotional health (my well-being) is primed and optimized to make me feel energetic, motivated and strong each day. I have the mental and physical stamina to deal with life’s challenges and opportunities. I regularly take care of myself so that I can feel my best.

Love:  ______

I feel a consistently deep, trusting, appreciative, soulful, loving connection with my significant other. I am patient, respectful an attentive to my partner’s needs.

 Family & Friends:  ______

My immediate social circle of family and friends brings connection, fun and positive energy into my life. I seek out positive people, and I do my very best to bring positive energy and real authenticity into all my relationships.

Mission:  ______

I feel clear, energized and fulfilled by my work and contribution to the world. I believe my work or day’s efforts adds real value to the world and is a true reflection of my best efforts and contributions. I enjoy the  lifestyle my work is helping me experience in life.

Finances:  ______

I have the level of abundance I need to have a stable income and lifestyle I desire for myself and my family. I earn and invest at the levels I had hoped at this time in my life. I have a clear vision for improving  my finances and lifestyle in the next few years.

Hobby:  ______

I have a passionate past-time that allows me to express, enjoy or develop myself outside of my job/career. I give enough time to the things I love in life.

Spirit:  ______

I feel connected to the present moment and vitally alive in my spirit. I am congruent with my beliefs and behaviors, and I keep my faith and values at the forefront of my decisions and daily actions.

TOTAL:  ________

 5.     Journal what you are noticing, and what you feel inspired by.

CHOOSE:

1.     Pray for God to help you to see, and recognize, what key decisions you will have to make today and continue to make throughout 2025 to honor your grand design and His will for you in this season.

2.     Consider the 6 domains of your life:

FAITH - FAMILY - FITNESS - FINANCE - FRIENDS – FUN

3.     Identify which domains are calling for your attention and courage. Write these down.

4.     For those unique domains, identify the necessary shift(s) that will honor where you’d like to go this next year. The things that should make this list are key decision that must be made. What must you add, keep, or get rid of in that domain? What new habits or changes to your environment would be crucial for your success?

5.     Ask yourself this question: AM I WILLING?  

6.     Write down the choices you will make today, tomorrow, and throughout 2025, that will consistently honor your best efforts to make the shifts you are inspired to make. What attributes will you need to develop and stay focused on that will contribute to your efforts? Write these down. 

7.     Go back to the mirror and verbalize these commitments. Pause. Note how this feels and what parts of it you feel most connected to.

8.     Identify 5 people who will become part of your Personal Advisory Board in 2025. These should be people who have a significant influence in your life from a place of thinking and being, as well as people who will challenge you on your own BS. Write their names down.

ENGAGE:

1.     Pray for God to help you recognize clearly WHO you will need in your camp, as it relates to the changes you have set out to influence.

2.     Set 5 reminders/alarms throughout your day, tabled with the 3 attributes you listed above, as a steady reminder of the “way of being” that will mirror your very best efforts. I’d suggest one shortly after you wake up. Another mid-morning. One mid-day. One mid-afternoon. And one before late in the evening as you are getting ready to go to bed. 

3.     Reach out to those who you’ve selected to be on your Personal Advisory Board and ask of their time and partnership in this coming year. Define what that might look like for them. Share with them specifically what you are committed to and will own from your side of the table. There should be 8 seats at your advisory table. 5 will be filled by this chosen group. The remaining three seats will be filled by Present YOU, Future YOU, and God. These three seats will be fixed seats. The others can change and adopt through time as your needs change and as you continue to challenge your circle of high influence.

4.     TIME BLOCK. I love this quote - “If you want to know what’s important to someone, look at their calendar and their checkbook.” Therefore, if these decisions you are making are of high importance, they better find a protected and adequate place on your calendar. This is part of designing an ecosystem for success. Go build your calendar. Include personal productivity events in each of the domains you’ll be focused on. Schedule your board meetings or one-on-ones with your Personal Advisory Board members. Schedule a cadence of personal accountability and celebration for the path you will be walking.

5.     WHO else needs to know of your plans and commitment to the changes you seek in your life? You might consider sharing your focus and intentions to your spouse, children and close friends.  

6.     Write down who you want to experience in the mirror one year from now. Now go to the mirror and verbalize WHO you will need to become (attributes and habits), so that your experience in the mirror will reflect that being one year from now.

UNLOCK:

1.     Pray for God to help you let go of comfortable and the habits that are holding you back. Pray for his shared measure of grace, courage, and discipline as you navigate this coming year. Pray for the ongoing recognition and gratitude for the progress you are making and the people in your camp cheering you on. Pray for a presence to what matters most. Pray for strength beyond your own. Pray for His ongoing partnership in the good you seek and spend yourself towards.

2.     Honor your calendar.

3.     Honor those who said YES to you and your plan.

4.     Honor the man in the mirror.

5.     Honor Him who built and designed you to become like He is.

6.     SLOW DOWN. Busy will not serve you or those you love. Pace will hold integrity and abundance for your growth if you will relentlessly avoid procrastinations call. (Part of your “add, keep, or get rid” of exercise should help you see what distractions you have allowed to make you busy.)

7.     LIVE TRUE each day. One day at a time. Reflecting and re-engaging as needed. Stay committed to your path forward. Truly OWN IT.

Note:

Take the time it takes with this exercise. It matters! If this process takes you a day, two days, a week, let it. You shouldn’t force a habitual reaction to the change in season as perhaps in the past. Real change comes through dedicated and consistent actions that hold integrity with what you’ve designed and declared. This work will most likely increase the level of necessity in your life. Honor the gift of each moment as you REFLECT, CHOOSE, ENGAGE, and UNLOCK your grand design.