Look back, look ahead and execute

The year is coming to a close; we will never experience the same year again in this lifetime! That does not deter us from our New Year party. Most of us might have planned how we wish to welcome the New Year; where is the party going to be, who is to join and what to wear and so on. Some of us may have the habit of passing New Year resolutions, irrespective of our last year experiences!

In all these external manifestations of party mood, I do notice an internal reflection and introspection taking place in many people. They may or may not express the same, but the process is on in their thoughts!

Looking back at the year that is just concluding is a good habit. It does teach us many things about ourselves. It brings out to the fore our best and worst moments of achievement; it teaches us from our mistakes; it deepens our understanding about our capabilities and our vulnerabilities. It also allows listing down our regrets – regrets of not doing what we wanted to do and regrets of doing something that was not appropriate to do.

Before you step out for the New Year’s party, it makes sense to spend half an hour looking back at the year. This is purely a personal exercise and must be done in solitude with all honesty. It is also helpful to key in your reflections on your computer or smartphone or scribble it down in your diary.

As you keep referring to these notes during the next one year, you will notice how valuable these insights are!

Looking ahead – with hope

Hope - it is a beautiful phenomenon that we notice in most of the human beings! Perhaps, it is at the core of human existence. Irrespective of how life was during the last year, hope makes us look ahead at the next year with positivity.

Though we did not implement many of our resolutions, hope makes us pass some more resolutions for the New Year. Though there has been not much of success at work, hope makes us think that first quarter of the New Year (and the last quarter of the financial year) will be far better. Though the academic performance has nothing much to talk about so far, hope gives us strength to think that we can catch up from now on.

As you look at all these examples, we understand how vital HOPE is in our lives. If we failed during the last year, hope makes us strive for success in the New Year. If we were successful during the last year, hope gives us courage to dream bigger in the New Year.

On the flipside, just imagine for a moment how does it work when we lose hope. We tend to give up; we drop our shoulders; we end up in despair; when we do not have hope, we do not look ahead; we essentially get stuck in the past and we suffer in pain.

The whole concept of Positive Psychology teaches us the importance of remaining positive and striving with hope. It is at the root of good life and well-being. Embark on the New Year with bundles of hope!

Execution – the game changer

While positivity is the frame of mind that we use to look ahead, we need to have discipline of implementing what we plan to accomplish in the New Year. If we fail to execute our plans, remember that we are accumulating our regrets for the end of year. Keep a simple target: minimise the number of items that you will include “I should have done” category; instead, maximise the items under your “I have done” category. It will surely take you to greater heights!

Having read this article, it is important to act.