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"Without reflection, we go blindly on our way creating more unintended consequences and failing to achieve anything useful."

- Margaret J. Wheatley

 

The first quarter of the year is now over. Can you believe it? As we move forward this next quarter, it's important to take a step back and reflect on just how far we've come.

I recently spoke about the pain and discomfort involved in growth. Inevitably, we as humans are constantly evolving. As we continue to grow, we must go through trials and troubles. But in order to move forward, we first must overcome. A huge part of overcoming involves getting over our pasts and everything that that may involve.

At some point, the time will come when we will have to climb out of the sandy hole on a beach like a baby sea turtle. We will make the metaphoric trek across the sand and into the ocean where we're free. We will break out of that cocoon to become a butterfly. We will reach our final destination. We will become our final form.

In understanding that pain and discomfort, we will rise to victory. Our victory.

But in order to do so, we must first reflect. We're now three months into the new year. Have you achieved the goals that you set in January? If so, how long did it take you to achieve them? Can this method be duplicated or recycled for the next three quarters of the year? Will what you're currently doing continue to work?

It's imperative that we take these moments to look back and see if we are where we hoped to be. There are a myriad of reasons (both in or out of our control) why we don't complete our goals in the time we've set for them. However, that doesn’t mean that we should give up. It also doesn't excuse the fact that we've made a significant effort to get to where we want, hope and need to be.

I can assure you that if you take a look at where you thought you’d be in April, you’d see that you indeed have overcome certain trials and tribulations. You have conquered mountains. You'd take notice of all the people you've moved towards or moved away from. You'd recognize the things you've had to let go: the weight that's been lifted off your shoulders, the heavy burdens you've laid down, the goals that you've set and made, the doors that have opened and closed, and the opportunities that you have created.

I completely believe that if you take a step back to reflect, not only will you learn more about yourself, but it’ll further set you up for where you want to be. You'll be able to clearly and succinctly rewrite your plan, reform your goals, and re-calibrate your vision. When we have a plan in our minds, we create the means to get there. But sometimes along the road there are roadblocks. There may be construction. And occasionally, certain roads might just be closed. But life has its own funny little way of making us take detours. The best of us are able to adapt like water and roll with the tide.

You’ve got to move with change. Whatever you do, stay the course of your vision. Stay true to who you are and keep that hope - that dream - alive. Demonstrate your faith in yourself by taking action and I guarantee you will get closer to exactly where you need to be.

So take some time. Re-calibrate. Reflect. Rejig. Re-tweak.  

#GetAfterIt

 

-JH

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