Soon the year will end and a new year will stretch out before us, perhaps like the excitement of a new exercise book at school. But we have not yet finished with all the treasures the old year has to offer.
I was recently sitting in front of a roaring log fire, which was just wonderful. As the evening unfolded the rich conversation continued, as so often does when we are relaxed and in good company. The hours slipped away and soon enough the hour was late, and time to be thinking of retiring for the night, yet we wondered if there was need for more fuel for the fire for the final part of our evening.
The fire did not get any more wood but the heat remained in the embers as the fire died down. After a little more conversation we all headed off to our beds, glowing with the heat from the fire, the company, and the pleasurable aroma of wood smoke.
As I reflected on the evening it made me think about the end of the year. Whilst there may no longer be time to make major changes, or embark on a large project, there is still heat enough in the embers of our year to have huge value, if we so choose.
As you will know when you light a fire, there is often a lot of flame as the paper and kindling start to blaze. It is not until the large wood and logs start to burn that the real heat starts to come through. Yes, it all looks pretty impressive at the first flush of flame, but the fire needs to do some work to really get going and have retained heat. The sort of heat that is warming, and may die down, but as soon as you place another log on the fire the hissing and heat soon have the new log glowing.
This is so true in most tasks or projects we start. There is a lot of activity and visible ‘flame’ but not much heat. Also, not much that has the possibility of residual ‘heat’ or value. Some projects may not last, as the initial attention was not good enough, or the project was the wrong one, but some things that have been started will have developed.
While the embers of the year still have some heat take a little time to reflect, and remember, all of the successes and great things you have accomplished over the last twelve months. All too often we think of the things that didn’t go well, dispensing a large dose of self-criticism, rather than making time to remember the successes. I would observe, that even in the most awful of years, there will be some embers that burnt bright, some amazing things you have done – they just need a little thought to bring back to life.
As I write I can instantly think of a number of things that stand out – the results of the Financial Times NED Diploma two weeks before Christmas; the time in Amsterdam, two weeks before that, at a conference with people from 15 other countries – where the learning was good, and the conversations with people from the various countries better still. Time with a valued friend in her art studio. Yet as I think further back my memory starts to fade. So after I have completed this article I will take time, with my diary and journal, to properly reflect on the past year. Carefully looking right back to the start of the year.
I have met some people who say why do I bother to do this, the year has gone and they want to look forward. As a goal setter, and someone who is very much interested in future growth, I find so much value in the reflection. There are always great messages and significant learning points to consider. And should challenges interrupt the path in front of us, which can sometimes become all consuming, to have some bright lights from the past to draw on can make a huge difference. A difference between suffering a major setback, or remembering times when achievements were made, smiling and moving quickly forward.
• So what can you think of that made your year a great one?
• What minor and major achievements have you added to your success store?
• What have you learnt from the setbacks?
• Have you looked at your diary or journal to check right back over the year, rather than merely thinking of events in the past few days or weeks?
• Once written down can you feel the glow from the residual heat rather than just noticing the flames that burned bright but with no real energy?
• Now add these thoughts to your memory bank for future use (and perhaps add something extra on your CV).
The new year will be with us soon enough so why make this only a once a year event? There is so much value in regularly taking stock.
My best wishes,
Peter
