New Year Reflections for Alignment and Accountability

As teacher entrepreneurs, we know the value of self-assessments, analysis, and audits. We even know how to make them fun. Self-reflection and self-awareness are also vital skills for entrepreneurs because they fuel success.

It’s natural that we pause and take time for New Year reflections. We want reflections that empower us with accurate feedback and encouragement. We also need an accurate picture of our holistic journey as women entrepreneurs to create a fresh vision.

Reflecting, however, isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. We can over-focus on evaluating our performance and find ourselves slipping into harmful self-judgment. 

We may also be tempted to skip reflecting on our vision. We can be hard on ourselves, and we can easily justify sacrificing our self-care for someone or something else . . . even our teacher business.

While these are all-too-human responses, it doesn’t have to be this way.

We need end-of-year reflections that empower and uplift us while providing the feedback and accountability we need. We should embrace the fact that we’re dynamic - as we change, so should our vision. 

The New Year is a perfect opportunity for growth, accountability, and creating an aligned vision. Let’s explore how non-judgmental self-assessment can look and how to create more of it so we can dream up an aligned vision for the year to come.

I’ll also suggest New Year reflection questions to help you align with your goals, adapt to your circumstances, and create effective systems that serve a new vision as you move forward. Let’s delve into accountability with compassion as we balance rigor with self-kindness.

Empowered Reflections for Women Entrepreneurs (H2)

New Year reflections nurture personal and professional development in the following ways:

• They foster clarity by helping you gain a deeper understanding of lessons, goals, and values, allowing you to see what works and what needs reviewing.  
• They provide a practical springboard to create or retool a holistic vision.
• They encourage flexibility, prompting you to adjust goals, values, and strategies. 
• They allow the opportunity to practice confidence, decision-making, and other essential leadership skills. 
• Lastly, they nurture compassionate accountability, emphasizing self-kindness as you reflect. Self-kindness is valid in and of itself. It also builds the empathy muscle for others.

New Year Reflection Question: How would you define an “empowered reflection?” What might help lean into that definition? 

How to Turn Self-Judgement Into Empowered Reflection: A Cognitive Behavioral Approach (H3)

A self-judgment has two parts. First, it’s a thought. Second, it’s a negative emotion like shame or guilt. The thought, or "cognition," can occur before or after the emotion.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) says we can’t control anything about an emotion - not its timing, content, or intensity. However, it posits that we can control a thought. 

In this context, a thought is a trigger. CBT says that reframing it is where our power lies. 

Cognitive reframing is a skill. And it becomes easier and more natural the more you do it.

I want to emphasize that this is not about toxic positivity or denial. It’s about being compassionate with your emotional truth, embracing human imperfection, and learning to disarm a negative thought.

Let’s look at an example of reframing a self-judging thought.

A reframe starts by shifting your focus from perceived shortcomings to actual accomplishments. For instance, you can change the thought of "I didn't meet some of my goals this year" into "I overcame unforeseen challenges and achieved substantial growth in the face of them.” If you want to be extra, you can describe the growth you experienced and can now harness as you move into the future.

Ideas for Reflecting on the New Year and Creating a Fresh Vision (H2)

Aligned Goals Begin With Reflection (H3)

If you think about it, alignment only exists in the present. But it’s rooted in the past. 

An aligned goal meets you where you are now and moves you toward inspired visions and cherished values. It requires adaptability and self-discovery. It also requires a heavy dose of self-assessment and honest reflection. Most importantly, aligned goals help cultivate self-compassion.    

Before you start your New Year reflections, set an intention to practice compassion as you align your goals and vision.

New Year Reflection Question: How could you practice self-compassion as you reflect on the past year? 

Women Entrepreneurs Need Streamlined Systems (H3)

Now it’s time to talk systems, specifically designing or updating systems that support aligned visions and goals.

If your aligned vision includes expanding your reach while prioritizing more time with family, evaluate how much your systems support that. Consider improving or introducing new work schedules or making your content creation strategy more efficient. You could pre-plan your marketing more and subcontract others to help. You can bolster systems that reinforce personal boundaries, create time for essential self-care, or protect family time. 

You also need to examine if and how systems reinforce one another. Coordinating mutually supporting systems will go a long way in seamlessly integrating your goals and vision. 

Support for Reflecting and Designing a Vision (H2)

Will reflecting on the New Year and creating an aligned vision make life easier? Will it make running your teacher business easier? 

It’s complicated.

There will be unanticipated challenges, setbacks, and changes of circumstance. You’ll evolve. You’ll learn easy and hard lessons. You’ll get better. You’ll change your mind. Something will get messy.   

You’ll also learn or deepen skills, take action towards aligned goals that motivate and inspire you, practice more self-care, and gain confidence in your ability to be accountable and self-loving. One of the highest acts of self-love is creating a vision at all. And you’re 100% worth it.   

Use This Free Vision Board Workshop for Your New Year Reflections (H2)

I’m so excited to offer a free “Vision Board Party.” It’s a 30-minute prerecorded workshop that walks you through reflecting and creating a vision for the year and each of its quarters. Take it anytime, work digitally, or get creative by duplicating it with your own materials.