2020 has had a lot to say for itself | Laura Taylor, Speaker for Life Audit & 2021 Goal Setting

Join Laura and the Rising Network on Thursday 3rd December 2020 at 12:00 GMT for: Life Audit & 2021 Goal Setting. This is something all of us need after the year we’ve had. Choose the right chocolate for 2021. Book your place HERE!!!

Life is like a box of chocolates. Which chocolate will you choose for 2021?

Let’s face it: 3rd January 2021 is probably not going to look all that different to 3rd December 2020. This pandemic has changed our world, and we’ve all had to adapt to a new way of living.

2020 has had a lot to say for itself. From the apocalyptic scenes of the Australian bushfires in January, the shooting down of a Ukrainian airliner by the Iranian regime killing all 176 people on board, and the massive ammonium nitrate explosion in Beirut which injured over 6,000 people, to the social unrest in the United States and across the world following the death of African American man George Floyd at the hands of a white police officer. Not to mention, of course, the global devastation of the coronavirus pandemic and numerous other natural disasters, fatal crashes, and political wranglings.

So much turbulent water has churned beneath the bridge of 2020 that I bet you have only fleeting memories of the plans you were making for yourself as you entered this new decade with fresh-faced optimism.

But – hey, come on – it’s not all bad.

As Forrest Gump says “My mom always said life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.” The beautiful way to appreciate life is to celebrate that you got chocolate, no matter whether it’s your favourite or the one that’s not quite so sweet. The important thing is: you still got chocolate.

I think we can take some real positives from our enforced lockdowns, such as for me: the realisation that, actually, I maybe didn’t need to be living my life at the breakneck speed I was going at before the pandemic hit. And: I can get an awful lot done when I’m undisturbed, working from home (provided of course that the children are being educated by their teachers at school, and not by me at home!)

As this year draws to a close, it is time to stop and reflect on what we have learnt. To identify those things we’re ready to leave behind and those areas we’d like to improve. And to recognise what new habits and routines we’ve adopted that we’d like to carry forward into the new year.

The dawn of a new year provides such a lovely opportunity to take stock. To assess how we’re feeling about our lives. And to come up with a plan to make the next year even better.

But wait! Before you go setting any goals, I recommend you review your life in seven areas.

This reflection will help you to work out where to focus your energy next year so that you’ll make more impact, feel more balanced and altogether happier.

Business and career – Are you happy in your job? Do you earn enough money? Is it your dream job?

Finance – Do you save money? Do you have enough to pay your bills? Are you dependent on credit cards or loans from friends?

Health – Are you physically and mentally well? Are you happy with the way you look and feel? Do you suffer from aches and pains?

Family and friends – Do you have a great relationship with your children? Do you have a network of people that you spend time with? Do you have friends and family who can help you?

Romance – Have you found love? Do you have someone who can support you?

Personal development – Are you open to new experiences and eager to learn?

Fun and recreation – Do you enjoy life? Do you take on new challenges? Do you have hobbies you enjoy?

Contribution to society – Do you help people in need? Or volunteer?

Take some time to reflect on how well you feel you’re doing in each of these domains (give yourself a score out of 10). And, for each, where would you like to get to?

Are there one or two areas with a large gap between where you score now, and where you’d like to end up? If so, now you know where to focus your goals for 2021!

I’ve certainly felt some emotional highs and real lows travelling on the 2020 rollercoaster. But I finally feel like I’m levelling out a bit. I am coming to accept this ‘new normal’ and embracing what it means for my life going forward.

I am looking forward to 2021 with eagerness and positivity, knowing that there are many ways in which I am in control of my life and how I choose to enjoy it, whilst being under no illusion that the world will likely continue to look very different for some time to come.

Bring on 2021. I’m ready!