12 December 2023

As the end of the year gets closer it is a good time to take a moment and do some self-reflection during a quiet moment on your own. Taking a step back to assess your year nearly finished is a great time to look at what you have accomplished and what needs to be looked at in the months ahead before the New Year begins. However, self-reflection is only as powerful as you allow it to be – you can use it to improve yourself and you can also use it for personal growth. 

But how can you leverage self-reflection to get to that point?

The point of it is to examine your thoughts and actions, consider your motivations, and self-reflect to gain insights into your life. 

What it comes down to is asking the right questions of yourself because, with the right questions, you can unlock that potential and start fulfilling it. 

With that in mind, here are some questions you can use for self-reflection and use as guidance on your self-discovery journey before you start afresh in a new year ahead. Begin with these questions on a piece of paper or in a journal and then write down your answers to help clarify what it is you need to focus on or refine in the next twelve months to allow yourself to prosper and achieve a new level of greatness.

What are my core beliefs and values? 

You can't make smart decisions that work for you if you don't have a strong grip on your core values and beliefs.

So, reflecting on your principles and trying to understand what matters to you and what you stand for is a big part of the process. What is it that drives your decisions? Do your decisions align with the values you have identified?

What are my weaknesses and strengths? 

One of the core components of personal growth is self-awareness so you need to do the work to understand yourself better. Understanding your weaknesses and strengths is a big part of that.

So, consider your areas for improvement and where you could improve. What special skills or qualities do you possess and what are you exceptionally good at? 

If you want to leverage your strengths for success, you need to understand what they are. Uncovering your weaknesses is also a helpful step because one, you can improve on them where necessary and two, you can accept help from others for those points.

What are my aspirations and goals? 

If you want to assess your aspirations and goals, you need self-reflection. What are your short-term plans for the next 12 months? What about your long-term ideas over the next three to five years? Are you moving in the right direction? Have you drifted off the course you set? Do your commitments and activities align with your short and long-term goals? 

Clarifying your aspirations and goals will help you set a clear direction. It empowers you to prioritize your actions and focus your energy on making your desired outcomes come true. 

You can regularly revisit your goals as a part of a self-reflection period because everyone changes over time, and sometimes your values change, and sometimes your priorities change, but if you want it all to work together you need to know.

What have I learned from my failures and my mistakes? 

A lot of people make a mistake and think they've failed. Or they experience failure and think it's the end of the world. Neither of those things is true – it's just a temporary setback. And at best if you learn from that mistake then you are liable to not repeat that mistake again and move on.

You can convince yourself of that by answering the question of how much and what you learned from those failures and mistakes in your past. Those mistakes and failures can shape the decisions you make and build your character. 

Learning to embrace your failure and learn lessons is a crucial part of personal growth.

Am I fulfilling my purpose and living authentically?

Living authentically is important, but are you? Are you doing what it takes to fulfill your purpose? Use self-reflection to see whether your life aligns with your purpose.

Are you living based on the path you have been crafting or according to external pressure or societal expectations?

Purpose and authenticity can drive your fulfillment and success, but you need to tap into that motivation and passion.

Final Thoughts 

Use these self-reflection questions as part of a regular reflection routine to motivate yourself to succeed and foster personal growth. Self-reflection isn't a one-time task, it's something you will need to rely on frequently. It's all part of the self-discovery journey. Repeat this exercise monthly and you will notice an improvement over time and that your eagerness to grow and move ahead will increase over time as well. Make the next twelve months ahead of you a time of growth and change. You won’t regret having done that when you look back a year from now.

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