Happy New Year! Or is it too late? Do you feel like this is one of the fastest month of January to have ever lived? If you listen to most people, there is something different about this month. On a normal January, people would be looking more relaxed. They would be looking like they are on a new year hang over. They would be looking like they are still waiting for the year to really start.

On the contrary everything seems to have started on a high gear. Did we rest too much in 2020? Do we have the illusion that we lost an year? Could this be a way of trying to compensate what we lost? To some extent this could be true. In Kenya schools resumed officially this month. There is something about the school calendar that seems to dictate everything else. All of a sudden the roads are busy. The residential compounds are empty. Seems like everyone has gotten a reason to resume onsite working.

Perception is everything. The thought that we may not have lived enough last year is making us start the year on a higher note than normal. One of the things we are expected to do every beginning of the year is to set personal goals. You however cannot set new goals before you account for your performance in the previous period. Most people however seem to be in a dilemma. They are wondering what to account for as far as 2020 goals are concerned.

In a goal setting session that I attended recently a coach told the participants to use 2019 as a benchmark. This may be well advised by the change of events in 2020. I however had a different opinion. Though Covid was a major disruptor, life is full of changes. Benchmarking with 2019 denies us a chance to learn. Does it mean that every time we get a challenge we write off that season?

One of the things that prudent people did at the end of quarter one in 2020 was to review their goals and their strategy. They may not have totally changed the final goals but they became flexible with the process. They also introduced new goals and new actions in line with the Covid season. It would hence be wrong to write off 2020 and base our 2021 goals on 2019. What I found more interesting is that most people and industries found their footing by the fourth quarter. They had well adapted to the changes and started thriving in the new normal.

As I was reviewing my 2020 activities, I was awed by how much I was able to accomplish in relation to the set goals. I actually felt like I overachieved in some areas. In this case I still insist that despite the downside of Covid, the season was also a blessing in disguise. To make sure I did not miss on any learnings I took time to reflect. I went through my 2020 calendar week after week. I recorded all events, happenings and summarized them by month. I was amazed at how much I had done and how varied the actions were. For once there was no sign of one activity dominating the calendar. It was a glorious mix of activities.

This encouraged me to score my 2020 goals; both the initial and the reviewed goals. I had set the goals in reference to the wheel of life. I was impressed; for once since I started setting personal goals, my wheel balanced!

Wheel of life.

I felt more energized to set 2021 goals. I raised my confidence on exploring new possibilities. I even added two more items on my 2021 wheel of life. If you do not take time to record and reflect you will never realize how much can happen in one year. Recording and reflecting makes you become more aware of your successes and sorrows.

Before you write off 2020. Before you get overexcited about 2021. Take a moment and reflect on all the happenings and events of 2020. Celebrate your success, forgive yourself and others, let go of any baggage or regrets. Pick your lessons and form a benchmark for 2021. Most importantly remember to keep your wheel balanced.

You are the captain of your own ship. You must take the wheel of life and go forth in the direction you need to.

2 thoughts on “My Wheel Balanced!”

  1. Pamela says:

    This is remarkable. No experience goes to waste. The 2020 was a blessing in disguise. Those experiences are lessons learnt. And when put to good use a lot can be achieved. Thanks

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