The Past is Prologue: My Year in Review
Learn from 2023 so you can create a BRIGHT future for yourself in 2024!
I love the space between Christmas and New Year’s Day. Since 2021, I’ve taken time to reflect on the past year in terms of what worked, what didn’t, what I learned, and what I want to change in the coming year. I learned this practice from my mentor, John C. Maxwell, who has done it for many years. It’s simple, really. I went back through my Outlook calendar and reviewed each entry. Memories of struggles, wins, and growth areas were brought to mind.
The farther backward you can look, the farther forward you can see. - Winston Churchill
I’ve also been reviewing my journals for the past year. I prefer writing things down. However, I’m now sold on electronic journaling as it is much easier to review. Since learning about Brendon Burchard’s personal development work in 2022, I have used GrowthDay1. As of today, I made it through June 30th of my journal entries.
What follows isn’t intended to be like one of those braggy Christmas card letters from the perfect family. Quite the opposite. My hope is that you’ll get one idea that will inspire you to take an active role in growing yourself first and making tomorrow better than today:
STRUGGLES
I was let down by people I was close to. I must release them to fight their own battles and not let them drag me down.2
At different times, I was overwhelmed by comparison. I fell into the trap of defining my success against others instead of realizing that God made me for a unique purpose.3
I failed at several things throughout the year, both at work and home. I’ve always hated failure because it leads to shame. I’m slowly learning to embrace failure as the quickest path to growth.4
I lost a young friend and mentee in her 20s. This affected me deeply. I still ask myself what I could have done.5
I didn’t prioritize my health enough. I could have all the material things I ever wanted but without my health, I’m no good to anyone.
I’m a “color inside the lines” guy. I was too hard on myself for not being perfect at everything I tried.
WINS
I was able to have lunch with my dad on a weekly basis. What a joy and privilege to spend time with him!
I had the opportunity to make a difference with the engineers I mentor. It’s fantastic to see their growth since the beginning of the year. This brings me joy.
My team at work persevered through many challenges to deliver tangible value for our company. I’m proud of them.
The most impactful book I read this year was John Maxwell’s “The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth”6. I also led two masterminds on this topic. This is a book to reread every year.
I saw more live music than I’ve ever seen in a year. This makes me feel alive and happy.
I traveled more this year than in any year I can remember. Connecting with family and friends was priceless.
I accepted that I must participate in my own rescue. No one is coming to rescue me from myself and my negative thoughts.
Investing in my personal growth moved the needle. I hired coaches who made a massive difference in my life and have helped me shift from a fixed to a growth mindset.
I attended two coaching conferences and connected with amazing like-minded people, some of whom will be friends for life.
I was a guest on my first podcast, which should come out early in January!
GROWTH AREAS
I need to have more fun! Hiking, pickleball, golf, bike riding - I need more of it in my life! It doesn’t need to be complicated, but it’s crucial to my mental health.
I need to prioritize my health through better eating and physical activity. I’ve taken this for granted even after almost losing my life.7
I need to get that nagging grade school teacher off of my back. I often feel like the inner critic keeps telling me I haven’t done enough. As my friend Tom Telesco often says, “Done beats perfect.”
My word for 2023 was COURAGE. Publishing this weekly blog is the epitome of this word. I had to swallow my fear of what others might think and do it anyway. I’m learning that success isn’t measured by likes, comments, or mentions. Instead, it’s a friend pulling me aside a few weeks ago to tell me, “Tarek, you think people are thinking about what you’re talking about. They aren’t. This is important. Keep writing!”
Take time over the next couple of weeks to do your own year-in-review. Learn from the past so you can chart a course for the future you want to create.
2024 is your year! Who do you want to be one year from now? It’s time to stop playing small and grow yourself first!
Note: I’m working on a “Best of 2023” post to share some of my top lessons, albums, concerts, podcasts, books, etc.
this was AMAZING! I had guests and I'm so glad I waited to read this slowly and digest it. THANK YOU!!!