End Well for a Good Beginning

Article that appeared in The New Leaf ™.

Endings are important. Take time as this year nears its close to examine what you have accomplished and to revisit and revise your commitments. Your reflection now will lay a foundation for new possibilities in the New Year.

Here are the questions I am sharing with my clients:

1. Think back over your year with regard to your work. What was a high point, a time when you felt most effective and engaged? Describe how you felt and what made this situation possible.

2. Without being humble, describe what you value most about yourself with regard to your work.

3. Without being humble, describe what you value most about yourself with regard to your personal life.

4. With regard to your work, what are your primary sources of pride and joy? What keeps you enthusiastic, renewed, engaged?

5. With regard to your personal life, what are your primary sources of pride and joy? What keeps you enthusiastic, renewed, engaged?

6. Describe three concrete wishes for the coming year (personal or professional).

[These questions were adapted from similar questions in "The Thin Book of Appreciative Inquiry" by Sue Annis Hammond. http://www.thinbook.com/

(Yes, you can get this at Amazon.com, but you'll get it much faster at this site. I'm happy to forego the commission I'd get from Amazon in order for you to get the book in a timely manner.)