Looking Back, Looking Forward

It’s been quite the year, huh? Sooooo much has transpired in the last 12 months that it’s sometimes hard to remember all the things. As humans, we do something that’s commonly referred to as recency bias. This means the most recent event we experienced is of the greatest importance.

If you’ve ever gone through an annual review at work, you’re probably very familiar with this concept. Your assessment may be subject to the last two or three months of your work product – rather than the full year. It can be frustrating and disappointing.

This translates to our personal lives as well. We tend to judge ourselves based on the most recent experience we’ve had – both good and bad (like critiquing yourself at a peak or in a valley). I had a terrible week, so I’m an awful person that has done nothing useful. Have you ever said this to yourself? I know I have (said this to myself – not to you 😁).

In the work environment, I got into the habit of doing a couple of things – both with my teams and for the company as a whole. During the holiday season, I deliberately took time to make a list of all the amazing things we’d accomplished through the year. The list was always impressive. And the response was always: “Holy crap! I forgot we did that. Was that this year?  We did a lot of really cool stuff.” It put into perspective all the hard work everyone had done for many months, and it boosted morale significantly and gave us a momentum springboard going into the following year.

But we can also do this as part of our own human journey. As the year is winding down, take a look back. Make a full list of everything you’ve done (ask friends and family for input; we tend to be our own worst critics). I guarantee you will be surprised (in a good way). You may have read a book, taken a class, started a new job, completed a home project (scope, scale, and size don’t matter — an accomplishment is an accomplishment).

There were likely unforeseen (or even known) bumps along the road. However, the retrospective view will show that you overcame whatever the challenge was – when it seemed completely overwhelming and impossible at the time. When you felt like you wanted to give up – but you didn’t. That’s powerful and a source of inner strength.

Next year will likely be a crazy rollercoaster ride as well. I mean…that’s life, right? But your personal resume proves that you are equipped to ride the rollercoaster like a boss. That you are far more than your most recent experience (even if that looms large in your mind at the moment).

You will learn new things. You will face new challenges. But you will accomplish the incredible at the same time. Why? Because you already have.

Happy Holidays. Be safe. Enjoy time with friends and family. Conquer the new year.

Until next week.

Cheers,

Andy

(All written content created the old-fashioned way.)