Reflecting on the Past to Build a Better Future, Ep #185

This last year, when the COVID lockdowns happened, I took advantage of the space in my schedule to get started on a physical fitness routine, and I tell you, I made some great progress. It was a decision that benefited me in multiple ways and made me feel better overall. But once the pandemic restrictions lessened, I slacked on my new habit. It was a choice I made, but it was fueled by a handful of lies that I was telling myself, things like, “I do not have the time anymore” or “It is not that important.” The reality is that my fitness routine was one of the best things I was doing for my health and overall productivity and success. I did not come to this realization until I took time to reflect on the past year. When I did, it all came into focus and I found an area in my life where I can make a change that improves my life going forward. Taking the time to reflect is powerful. This episode is aimed at giving you the tools you need to use the power of reflection in beneficial ways in your life. [bctt tweet="CHALLENGE: Do you regularly reflect on the past to build a better future? Listen to this episode of #BestInWealth for a guided self-assessment tour! #investing #PersonalGrowth #retirement #PersonalFinance " username=""] Outline of This Episode What is reflection? [1:29] Studies that show the importance and benefits of reflection [9:10] Questions to help you reflect on the last year [11:32] What IS reflection? If we are going to take the time to reflect, we should start out with a clear definition of what we mean. REFLECT: Serious thought or consideration This kind of consideration can be focused on anything — your day, your week, the last year (what we will be doing), recent events, or serious situations or truths. There is honestly no limit to what you can spend time reflecting upon. In this episode, what I am encouraging you to do is to come with me on a guided process of reflection on what took place in the past year (2021). If we are going to take our role as Family Stewards seriously, then reflection is essential. Why? Let us just recap the situation we all went through this past year: When COVID hit, we were all busy with the activities and responsibilities of life. But the pandemic slowed our pace of life, in some cases to a crawl. We had the opportunity to sit with family at dinner, to have deeper and longer conversations, to reflect on things in ways we truly needed. But now that life has picked up its pace once again, we have pushed some or many of those things out of our lives again, to our detriment. A time of intentional reflection is going to serve all of us well if we wish to keep the benefits of the things we learned in the past year. [bctt tweet="What IS reflection and why is it so beneficial? Listen to this episode to hear what recent studies say about the benefits and power of personal reflection. #BestInWealth #investing #PersonalGrowth #retirement #PersonalFinance " username=""] QUESTION: Was 2021 mostly a good year or mostly a bad year? When we answer questions like this our minds take a very natural and expected turn. We recall one or two major life events and whether or not those were positive or negative, we make our assessment of the entire year. So, for example… Did you get married in 2021? Following the advice outline on this podcast, did you get out of debt? Did you buy or moved into a new home? Did you start a new career or job? Those are all exciting things, so if you experienced them in the last year you may feel your year was a good one. But what if you… lost your home or your job? Experienced the death of a loved one? Endured a health crisis? If those types of things characterized your 2021, you may say it was a bad year. But here is the point: Good or bad,...