1. Reflect

As the weather cools down and the leaves begin to change color, I can’t help but start getting into the season of feeling the immense gratitude in the air. With gratitude being in the fore front of my mind, I take a moment of silence to reflect about what it is I am grateful for.

This year, as I am in my time of reflection, I wanted to see how I could find ways to be grateful for myself other than just the typical family and friends answers we all say automatically. This exercise not only opens up a healthy line of communication internally, but can reinforce positive behavior for the new year.

My reflection is recorded in a notebook, but yours can look different. It could be a notes app or just shared verbally with someone that is close to you. Not only am I writing daily in my journal these last ninety days, but going the extra mile of creating a vision board in my Happy Planner of what I view a successful end of the year looks like for me is really going to inspire me to keep on track to things that I have set out for myself.

2. Analyze

Throughout my reflect, I was able to pinpoint that I was spending too much time on a goal that was already complete, rather than moving on to a different objective that I put to the back burner at some point over the course of this year. I often find myself looking too closely at something in return to only have forgotten what the bigger picture looks like.

Taking a step back to look at the bigger picture, I can start to better analyze my new situation now that one of the major goals I was working towards was actually completed. Creating a new spread in my Happy Planner also served as a vital reminder to myself of the things that I have been working on all year long have not and will not go to waste as long as I continue to keep working towards being one percent better than yesterday.

3. Systemize

Start to think of ways you can take your analytical reflection and implement it within the last remaining ninth days and even into the new year. Looking at the complexity of my schedule and knowing my past history of not looking at the bigger picture, I know that creating a system for the remainder of this year will set me up for success so that my present self can be kept my future self accountable.

A “system” is such a large umbrella term, but it really is something that just helps you get into the habit of acting on your yearly goals regularly. A system can range from a regularly scheduled meeting with a mentor about the status of your business or maybe it is a mega conference to start that investment you always wanted to. The system that I am currently fixated on is “making smaller categories.” Working on organizing my life and attempting to condense it are the goals I am building my habits around.

4. Consistency

Sticking to the system is truly the hardest part, but it is the more underestimate part in the entire preparing process. Don’t forget all the work put in to reflection, analyzation, and creating a successful system that just needs to be stuck too. My system of creating smaller categories has made the overwhelming task of organizing to becoming bitesized task that are taken on day by day with the support of others with time and planned communication of goals.

Although it is important to never underestimate the task at hand or the time allotted to this particular project, one must remember to take the time assigned to them seriously. When conducting a move at the end of the this summer, I had the opportunity to better organize the belongs that I had or somehow acquired.

Not only did I get to better honor the things that have been passed down to me, but I was able to get a better picture of the items that I had. Throughout the moving process, I also had to take a hard look at the things that I already had whether I had purchased them or have just been holding on to them for years.

5. Positivity

The last and final point that I like to leave off every conversation that I have with any individual is the fact the this world just needs a little more positivity and if I want to see that change in the world than I need to be that change in the world.

Michael Jackson really said it best when he sang, Man in the mirror. However, I think Dolly Parton was the actionable example of this type of behavior. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, which sends free children books to homes all throughout the globe and all the money that was donated to researching the covid-19 virus, are just a few things that really represent the people who inspire me to be a kinder person.

Lastly, surrounding yourself with people who are going to bring out the best in you and who will hold you accountable not only to the system but to being more positive will really make this experience all the more worth it. This can also be very challenging as our society becomes more independent. However, working towards one percent better everyday is better than just staying stagnant in your day to day approach to life and being vocal about the challenges you face will get you the feedback you truly desire.