My holiday party agenda is separated into three distinct phases – arriving, enjoying and leaving. When I arrive, I place my attention on greeting the host and finding the food. Next, I find a place to settle in and start enjoying the people around me. I grab a glass of wine and generally stay in the same location all evening. I’m an introvert and prefer fewer, but deeper, conversations with a handful of people.
Eventually, it’s time to shift into the leaving phase. It starts with the recognition that I’m ready to leave. I survey the room to see who I need to say goodbye to and sometimes exchange contact information with. I locate my coat; I find the host and thank them for having me; and I quickly head to my car. I’m not one for long goodbyes. Once I make a decision to leave, all of my actions align to quickly get me from the party to my home.
Leaving is a state of mind that releases one experience and transitions us into something new.
This week’s intention
Last week, we set an intention to prioritize reflection as we move toward the end of the year. If you missed that post, you can find it here.
For the next four weeks, our weekly intention will remain the same, but our reflection questions will change. I encourage you to prioritize end of year reflection in the same way you would leaving a party. Each week, the first question helps you look back and gather the things you want to take with you into the next year. The second question helps to reveal your desires and align your actions toward where you want to go next.
My intention is to set aside dedicated time for reflection.
This week’s questions are:
What habits served me well last year?
AND
Which of my talents and gifts do I want to use more frequently next year?
I’m journaling more than usual these days and I’ll continue to pray on one of last week’s questions (what topics do I want to learn about next year?), as I haven’t settled in on my answer. Please feel free to connect with me and let me know how your reflection time is going. How are you designating time for reflection? Which questions are hardest for you to answer? What questions should I add to the list?
See you next week!