The Mentoring Manifesto, Vol. 67: Reflecting and Looking Ahead

This time of year is exciting for the goal-setters and introspective types as we reflect on the year that was and look ahead and plan for the next one.

At our house, after we take down our Christmas decorations, we begin the therapeutic process of cleaning out closets, bathrooms, and the garage. For us, this activity marks the transition from the past to the future and helps us start the new year with a clean slate.

But even if you’re not the goal-setting type, if you’re reading this, I have a feeling you are committed to turning your evaluated experience into wisdom that inspires the next generation. And if that’s the case, I encourage (and challenge) you to intentionally stop and reflect on what was and what’s to come.

Below you’ll find several resources to help you reflect on 2022 and turn the corner into 2023. Before the busyness of the new year kicks in, pick one or more of these exercises and lean into them. You will be glad you did…and so will your friends and family. Share your reflections with those you mentor and encourage (and challenge) them to join you in this practice.

THE ONE WORD CHALLENGE

In this exercise, author Jon Gordon challenges you to choose one word to guide you in the new year. Choosing one word helps bring clarity and simplicity to your life, so you can focus on what matters. Watch this video outlining the exercise, or sign-up for an email course that walks you through it here.

THE 2023 DREAM GUIDE

Jennie Allen’s annual Dream Guide is a great resource to help you slow down, look at every aspect of your life, and pray as you enter a new year. These worksheets will help you make a plan that is realistic and help you be intentional in directing your life toward holiness and goodness. Download the Dream guide here.

FIVE QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTING ON THE YEAR

The Typology podcast explores how the Enneagram helps us self-reflect and learn about ourselves. In this episode, Ian Cron talks through 5 questions that will help us reflect on our year and what we learned, like, “What did you do this year that made your future self proud?” Listen to the podcast episode here.

NEW ‘BE’ RESOLUTIONS

In this article, Radical Mentoring founder Regi Campbell outlines an exercise where you write your obituary and what you want people to say about you. Then instead of resolutions about things we want to do or stop doing, working backward from these quotes, we can identify who we want to be in the new year and focus on actionable ways to be that person. Read the article here.