”Honest self-reflection opens your mind to reprogramming, change, success and freedom.” -Unknown

21st December 2021

Hello!

It’s the end of another year...

“Wait, what?, I can’t believe it! Where did the year go?” or "Thank goodness - What a year!"

Which of these statements ring true for you?

Often we start to have feelings of regret about the things we didn’t accomplish during the past 12 months. Determined to better next year, we start formulating our resolutions for the coming new year. And, if you are like most people, those resolutions are out the window by the third week of the new year!

I’d like to invite you to do things a bit differently this year… stop and give yourself the gift of time to reflect on this past year.

Taking time to reflect on the past allows you to:

• See where you are today vs where you started at the beginning of the year.
• Look at past experiences from a different perspective.
• Determine if the previous year’s goals and resolutions were truly in in line with your values.
• See the big and little “gifts” you received, celebrate those gifts, and experience gratitude.
• Take stock of the moments that brought you the greatest joy.
• Look for the lessons in past mistakes. Taking time to understand why you did something will help you avoid making the same mistake in the future. 

I hope you will make time to reflect over the holidays. Remember, we make time for those things we prioritize. So if you don't do this, perhaps, your goals are not a priority? And if they are not a priority, why aren't they? This discovery can be eye-opening.  Promise me that only once you have thoroughly completed this exercise, will you start setting goals and making resolutions for the new year! It will be the greatest gift you can give yourself!

I wish you so much joy during the holiday season and far beyond! I am of the opinion that if we don't have joy in our lives, we need to find a way to grab some!  Be greedy with joy!

Taking the LEAP with you!

Reflection helps us to forge ahead in life.

It helps us take action, and to gain focus. As the year is rounding off, many start looking back at what they've achieved so far in order to start planning their resolutions for the next year. But, before you start planning, I suggest you undertake the "look back" exercise using these seven core principles:

o  Be Positive

Learn to see mistakes as part of life and as a gift. They give us the necessities to grow and learn. Failures are opportunities to do better and propel us towards success. I like the adage, F.A.I.L. - First Attempt In Learning.

o  Be Present

You'll be able to see more objectively and be able to emotionally separate yourself from your past when you stay mindful and present. There's a reason why it's called the "past" - move on to the present.

o  Be Perceptive

Act like an objective investigator and scrutinize your past. Your past experiences, both good and bad, have certainly caused you to gain much wisdom, and if you look inward deeply and investigate, you will discover you have learned a lot from from them.

o  Be Purposeful

If you've been struggling with pressing towards achieving your goals, reflection can help you renew your determination, and it can also be an opportunity to refine your purpose. Have you gone "Seven Layers Deep" to know your "Why"?

o  Be Comfortable with being "Imperfect"

Taking imperfect action is so much more important than being perfect. Most perfectionist don't get much done. Commit to taking Massive Imperfect Action - let MIA be your mantra!

o  Be Proactive

Many people, despite understanding how significant and momentous reflection is, still won't be proactive to take time to reflect. Reflection helps you to learn and grow, and if you invest in reflection, you'll certainly have more to enjoy.

o  Be Passionate

We can laugh at our mistakes and cherish our successes when we live from our deepest passions. Do you wish to rekindle some passions that you've lost along the way with the every day grind? In recent years, what passion has sustained you? These are some questions you need to ask while you're self-reflecting to infuse passion back into your life. When you do, you will become energized!

Questions You Should Ask Yourself

As you reflect on where you are now, you may find you are very far from where you wanted to be! Taking time to reflect can help you stay on track with your goals and with your life's journey. Remember to enjoy the ride along the way!

Here are some questions you must ask yourself frequently to stay on track:

o  Am I using my time wisely? How do you spend your time? What do you do with your time? Most of us are "busy people" but do you know exactly what is consuming your time? Do you have strong boundaries around your time, so you can prioritize your goals?

o  Am I taking anything for granted? Practice gratitude. Reflect on the good things in your life - things we often take for granted. Make a list every day to recognize all the good in your life. You might be surprised at how long your list is!

o What perspective do I hold? Is it a healthy or not? Our perspective is very important because it's an underlying factor behind being successful, doing what's right, and/or being happy. Be open to stepping back and seeing things in a totally different light. Want even more perspective? Ask a friend to comment on your life; the great, the good and the not so good. Do they match with yours?

o  Am I living true to myself? Every now and then, our circumstances and actions must be consciously evaluated. Do you even understand what your values are? Take time to write all your values down and identify your top five. Walk away from anything that is not in line with your values.

o  How do I wake up in the morning? How do you wake up in the morning? One of the massive indicators of how happy you'll be is the first thought you have for the day. Reflect on this. Happiness does not rely on others, it relies on you. It's as simple as deciding to be happy. Yes, it is that simple.

o  What do I think about before I sleep?

A lot of things about your life are often revealed by your last thoughts before falling asleep, because this is when you achieve a measure of clarity as you get unplugged from everything. If the thoughts you have before falling asleep are usually negative, you may want to start addressing the stressors or anything that may be causing them. Did you know that when you spend 10 - 15 minutes writing down all that you are grateful for before going to bed, you will sleep better?

o  What efforts am I putting into my relationships? Humans are social animals - we need each other. Many of us, however, take our relationships for granted and as a result, they can suffer. Reflect on the people in your life. Do you appreciate them, do you do your part to stay connected with family and loved ones? As I've told some relatives, "The phone works both ways!"

o  Am I taking care of myself physically? “To keep the body in good health is a duty… otherwise, we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear.” – Buddha. We are often faced with an array of responsibilities that distract us from taking care of our bodies. How committed are you to taking care of your body? It should be your number one priority - after all, where would you be without it?

Challenge...

Make an appointment with yourself to take the time to reflect  - put it in your calendar and prepare for it as you would any other important meeting!

At the time, find a quiet spot where you will not be disturbed. Set yourself up for success by having good lighting, a comfortable seat, some soft music, and perhaps even have a diffuser going with your favorite essential oil... whatever makes you feel good! Have all the tools you need: Notebook, pens, and even water to keep you hydrated...

Now is YOUR time to reflect using the attached questionnaire. Be honest, be bold, color outside the lines! Spend time in each area and dig deep.

Download the reflection questionnaire here

Let's connect...
Join me in a one-hour complimentary strategy session to help determine how you can move forward in getting unstuck, and gain momentum to move in the right direction for you. During our session, we will go over one or two exercises and determine the one next step you can take on your own after the call to keep the momentum going. Click here to schedule your session

SOCIAL MEDIA

Renée Blasky is the Founder and CEO of The LEAP Network Ltd.

Renée discovered her business and mindset coaching super powers when she was approached by a woman looking for assistance in developing a business opportunity.  She hasn’t looked back since.  Coaching women fits with her passion to empower women so they live a fulfilled life and make choices from a foundation of personal power, financial freedom and a deep sense of accomplishment.

Through her own experiences, as well as coaching women entrepreneurs and women in finance, Renée understands women often undermine their confidence and self-esteem. Consequently, they jeopardize their success paths, and mental fitness. As mindset accounts for an estimated 80% of success and happiness, Renée helps her clients to understand the lies they are telling themselves, how they are sabotaging their performance, wellness and relationships and helps them to establish a new journey to thrive utilizing their superpowers.

Renée helps her clients find clarity, regain their passion, set stick-worthy goals, stay focused, create the right mindset, and be accountable.  She also gently pushes her clients outside of their comfort zones and helps them face their fears so they can achieve their dreams. Renée works with her clients through various online courses, webinars, one-on-one coaching, and group coaching programs.

Renée, who trained as a life coach with Tony Robbins and Cloé Madanes, is also a certified trainer for Marci Shimoff's Happy for No Reason and Susan Jeffer's Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway courses based on their respective books of the same name. She is also in the process of getting certified in the Positive Intelligence^® program to increase her client’s mental fitness.

Renée is aptly qualified to coach women entrepreneurs and women in investments having founded two of her own businesses; investment management consulting services and business coaching. She is passionate about equality, diversity and inclusion and loves multi-cultural environments, having lived abroad for 35 years with assignments in 13 countries. She obtained her Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Charter in 1990, and has over 30 years of experience in the investment/finance industry.  She is listed in Marquis Who’s Who in the World and Who’s Who in Finance.  She has also received various awards and recognition in the investment industry through her work with the CFA Institute and the development of capital markets in East Africa.

Learn more about Renée and The LEAP Network by visiting her website here: www.reneeblasky.com

You can also send an email directly to Renée at renee@reneeblasky.com