Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

I always get a bit reflective at this time of year; it’s a chance to consider the year past, what’s gone well, what not so well, what you’ve learned and what it might mean for the year to come. This year, having been such an exceptional year through the impact of Covid, I’m offering 5 questions based on the letters that spell Covid so that some good can come out of it! If you’d like to take a positive look at the year with a view to it setting you up for 2021, read on… and I’ll share my answers to the questions too.

The 5 reflection questions:

1. How have you shown Creativity during 2020 and what were the results?
2. What Opportunity has this year presented that you otherwise would not have had?
3. How have your Values been either challenged, or of support to you in 2020 and what does this tell you?
4. What one Individual would you like to show gratitude to for their part in your 2020 year, and why?
5. What have you Discovered about yourself in 2020 that will serve you well in 2021?

My answers:

1. How have you shown Creativity during 2020 and what were the results?
   2020 started in a tough way for me and my family. My wonderful Dad passed away on February 1^st and my Mum, who had been married to him for over 60 years, was suddenly without him. I had planned that I would be there for Mum as much as possible, spending time with her, taking her out in the country, talking about happy memories, but Covid soon put a stop to that and I wasn’t able to visit Mum in her care home for 5 months. In the first couple of weeks of lockdown I not only gave the care home the idea of setting up skype on staff tablets to enable residents to be able to communicate with their families but I researched devices that would enable us to video call Mum in her room in the evening without the need for her to have to accept the call. I ordered a MyHomeHelper device and got it set up before shipping to Mum’s care home. It has been a real help to keep us connected and wasn’t something I was even aware of prior to Covid.
   
2. What Opportunity has this year presented that you otherwise would not have had?
   Towards the end of March several of my clients had either paused their coaching or cancelled as they dealt with Covid in their workplaces. I was nervous about whether I’d have enough work in the months to come. With the unexpected space in my diary, I had the opportunity to invest in my own development and decided to undertake the Global Team Coaching Institute’s Team Coaching Foundation Certificate. It felt like a risk making the investment when I wasn’t sure what business was likely in the months to come but not only did it give me a much needed focus but it led to work designing a modular Virtual Team Management training programme for a national client.
   

3. How have your Values been either challenged, or of support to you, in 2020 and what does this tell you?
   My values include Freedom, Family and Gratitude. As you can probably imagine, freedom was challenged quite strongly – not so much by lockdown which I could understand, but because it stopped me being there for family due to the way in which care homes became inaccessible. I did manage to focus on a few other values such as growth (through development) and health (taking the opportunity to get fit, get lots of fresh air, build a habit of 10 minutes yoga every day, and lose some weight). Gratitude was a struggle for quite a few months though. That being said, I was eventually grateful that if my Dad did have to pass away, he did so before Covid hit. Not only would he have struggled to cope but he was able to have the send off he deserved with over 200 people in attendance. This realisation helped me with my own grief and enabled me to be grateful for his life, well lived.
   
4. What one Individual would you like to show gratitude to for their part in your 2020 year, and why?
   The key person that I am grateful to in 2020 is my partner Catherine. She has been patient, a listening ear, ready with a hug, and consistently understanding as I’ve experienced waves of varying emotions, frustration, confusion, lows, and also highs. She is my go-to sounding board, a wise and trusted counsel who always has my best interests at heart. I don’t underestimate the difference she has made to me this year.
   
5. What have you Discovered about yourself in 2020 that will serve you well in 2021?
   I’ve discovered that even after a life event that you can’t imagine getting past, life goes on and still manages to have positives and happy times. I’ve discovered that I can trust my instincts and take some measured risks knowing that my commitment to see things through will likely bring good results. I’ve also discovered that my focus and achievement drive serve me well but that I need to listen to my body and check in emotionally… and that’s ok.

I hope you find these questions useful to provide some insights that can support you in 2021. I’d love to read your answers. Wishing you a fulfilling year ahead!