January comes to a close and it can be a reminder of how fast time can pass us by.
It can be a reminder that good intentions and good deeds require some discipline if they are to be united.
If you think that the first month of the year went too quick for you to execute on some of your resolutions then perhaps it may be helpful to slow down a little.
To take the time to reflect on the month that was so that you may learn from it and step more wholeheartedly into the one that will be.
A simple framework for stepping into our greatness can provide us with an empowering and insightful tool for reflection and projection
A Framework to Support Greatness
Plan - set a plan for what you want from the day, week, month, year ahead.
Preparation - prepare your self and your environment as best you can
Practice / Execute - do the thing, the task, the activity, the work, the behaviour, the action - that's going to get you closer to your destination. Execute with excellence.
Reflect - an opportunity to review our process, to recognise what we did well, where we could improve and how we can make this month better than last (remember that consistency is a key quality - repeating a winning process is strengthening that process.)
The gift of reflection is the power to engage constructively with what we know of our past so that we might learn and grow more strongly into our future.
This can be a step beyond mindless rumination and disempowering self criticism.
With that being said lets use the same framework to guide our reflection\
Reflecting to Learn and Grow
How did you go?
Did today, this week, this month fee like a win?
Did today, this week, this month bring you closer to your goal?
Did you plan well?
Did you prepare appropriately?
Did you execute with excellence?
Did you reflect consistently, honestly, productively?
What challenges did you face?
How might you handle those challenges better in the future?
Does anything else seem helpful of relevant as you look back on the month that was?
Begin Again
Based on this reflection and your goals repeat the above process so you might move forward more strongly
Plan . Prepare . Practice . Reflect
Plan - What's you plan for the month ahead?
Prepare - How will you prepare yourself and your environment to make this month a success?
Practice - Execute with excellence. What will you do? When will you do it How will you do it?
Reflect - Did you plan well? Did you prepare appropriately? Did you execute with excellence? How will you improve?
The Tiger & The Monk
Without the Monk the Tiger is a slave to impulse.
Without the Tiger the Monks freedom is trapped with in.