We are screaming at top speed toward the new year. I’ve had a few conversations this past week about developing resolutions, but in none of those conversations did the person talk about the reflection they had done to come up with their resolution. The absence of reflection makes it less likely these resolutions will actualize.
The lack of reflection is troubling for two reasons. The first problem is that no evaluation of previous experience was included in the decision and plan to achieve the goal. It is likely that a resolution is something that has been attempted before.
Resolutions tend to lose their resoluteness by February because the reflection about why the resolution choice is important and what it will mean and look like in life when it becomes habit. The reflection on this vision will allow action planning to be detailed and appropriate. Including previous failures in determining what to do this time is a valuable exercise in reflection.
Reflection helps you level up your decision making and learn from past mistakes so that they aren’t likely to be repeated.
The second problem is that without reflecting on the big change you want to conquer in the new year, there is a potential for nonalignment.
Reflection will allow space to consider: Does the resolution make sense in your life? Does it align with the vision of yourself you are realizing? Will it enhance your life and the life of those you care for most? Do you have the time and energy to focus on this resolution along with everything else going on, or will it steal your focus?
Reflection will allow the space to know whether adding something else to your goal list makes sense. If you are really serious about making things happen, focus, plan and align.
Reflection is not just for the end of the year. Reflection should be used daily. Reflection can be used in meditation. It can be used in journaling. Reflection can be used before meetings or brainstorming sessions.
Reflection will make you become a better decision maker. Reflection will help you know yourself better. Reflection will help you develop better long lasting more impactful habits.
Tip: if you aren’t a naturally reflective person, be deliberate in your practice. Ask yourself (out loud or in your head) open ended questions, questions that require more than a yes or no answer. For example: How did that make me feel? Why did I react that way?
Baum Balance 
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