When I Reviewed My 20188 min read

Doing a full year review used to be difficult for me in the past.
I have learnt to simplify it by asking myself a couple of key questions. 

I focus the questions on 11 core areas of my life. These areas fall under three important categories.

The areas and categories they fall under are:

Category	Area
Relationships That Define Who I Am	Spiritual
	Physical
	Personal Leadership
Relationships That Refine Who I Am	Accountability Circle
	Marital
	Parental
Relationships That Experience Who I Am	Financial
	Work
	Church
	Social
	Community

Nothing complicated. The questions I ask myself are:

1. What is my vision for that area of life?

2.What went well during the year in this area?

3. What didn’t go so well during the year in this area?

4. What are the most important lessons learnt in this area?

Relationships That Define Who I Am

This is my most important relationships. They serve to give me security in my identity – who I am.

Spiritual
What is my vision for this area of life?	I want to be intimate in my relationship with God so that I respond to Him rightly and to the things that touch His heart the way He wants
What went well during the year in this area?	1.Maintained a consistent bible study habit. 2.Completed the M’Cheyne One Year Bible Reading Plan 3.I introduced the practice of meditation in my spiritual disciplines
What didn’t go so well during the year in this area?	1.I didn’t maintain my prayer times on a daily basis 2.I didn’t practice meditation & solitude as often as I hoped
What are the most important lessons learnt in this area?	1.Sometimes, letting things just run their ordinary course of time is the way God intervenes in my life 2.Coincidences are sometimes God’s way of been invisible in shaping the events of my life

Physical
What is my vision for this area of life?	I want to keep my body in a shape and rhythm that allows me to serve God and the relationships that He has given me
What went well during the year in this area?	1.Maintained a better eating habit. 2.Good eating and exercise habits ensured that I had more energy to carry out my daily activities. 3.I experienced tiredness less frequent than before
What didn’t go so well during the year in this area?	1.I didn’t achieve the daily target of 7-8 hours sleep most of the time. 2.I didn’t exercise as frequent as I planned
What are the most important lessons learnt in this area?	1.Good health is not sustained by good health practices but by God´s eternal word 2.Little changes in eating and exercise habits practiced over a long time lead to remarkable improvements.

Personal Leadership
What is my vision for this area of life?	I want to have the needed emotional balance, mental ability and personal skills necessary to serve God and the people I encounter everyday
What went well during the year in this area?	1.I read 20 out of the 24 books that I had planned for the year. You can see book I read here 2.I was able to focus my learning (books, conferences, online courses & podcasts) in my personal learning areas.
What didn’t go so well during the year in this area?	1.I spent more time learning ahead of putting into practice what I learnt. 2.My learning timetable was not structured and seemed to just go with whatever mood I was in.
What are the most important lessons learnt in this area?	The best way to engage well with a book or talk, is to adopt the mindset of the author or speaker.

Relationships That Refine Who I Am

The goal of these relationships is to help me become better at living life. They give me feedback and hold me accountable for who I am becoming and what I am doing.

Accountability Circle
What is my vision for this area of life?	I want to have relationships in my life with people I want to hold me accountable for key life decisions who are assured that their advice and time in my life are valued
What went well during the year in this area?	1.I established an accountability relationship.
What didn’t go so well during the year in this area?	1.I did not meet as frequently with my accountability partner. 2.I did not start any of the masterminds I had planned for. 3.I did not leverage the power of the online groups that I am a part of.
What are the most important lessons learnt in this area?	Not applicable

Marital
What is my vision for this area of life?	I want my wife to be secure in the knowledge that I love her and she is my most important priority & life partner
What went well during the year in this area?	1.We went on dates 2.We had difficult conversations which strengthened our relationship 3.We prayed together more during the year
What didn’t go so well during the year in this area?	1.We did not have mutual learning times. 2.The dates we went on were fewer than we planned.
What are the most important lessons learnt in this area?	Marriage is for a lifetime. I should be willing to wait a lifetime for some of the changes I want in my marriage

Parental
What is my vision for this area of life?	I want my children to be confident that they occupy a priority position in my life second to their mother and grow up equipped mentally, emotionally & spiritually for the challenges they may face in life
What went well during the year in this area?	1.We spent more time together than the previous year
What didn’t go so well during the year in this area?	1.I didn’t leverage the teaching moments as much as I could.
What are the most important lessons learnt in this area?	Children can have a vote, view or voice in the key family decisions. It’s takes skill to know what they should have per time.

Relationships That Experience Who I Am

The goal of these relationships is to see how well you play your part. The only reason I can play my part well is if I have security in who I am and constantly improving myself with inputs from key refining relationships.

Financial
What is my vision for this area of life?	I want to use my finances in a way that provides security for my family, opportunity for mutual enjoyment and supports causes that I believe in
What went well during the year in this area?	1.I was able to start the year’s key investment project – even though it was two months behind. 2.I was able to more social causes because of a planned allocation of my finances towards this
What didn’t go so well during the year in this area?	1.I didn’t keep to my budget during parts of the second half of the year.
What are the most important lessons learnt in this area?	Money is a tool that shows my philosophy for life

Work
What is my vision for this area of life?	I want to give so much value at work to my employers and colleagues that work becomes a platform to connect with people and bring God into the relationships
What went well during the year in this area?	1.I was able to improve the quality of my work due to self-training.
What didn’t go so well during the year in this area?	1.I did not leverage the opportunities I had to present the gospel to some of my colleagues. 2.I did not make time to take all the courses I registered for to improve my work efficiency.
What are the most important lessons learnt in this area?	My work should be used as a tool to add value to people starting with my colleagues

Social
What is my vision for this area of life?	I want to maintain relationships with people that shows I want to bring out the best in them and not just extract value from them for my benefit alone
What went well during the year in this area?	1.I was able to recognize most of the people in my social circle on their birthdays.
What didn’t go so well during the year in this area?	1.I was not able to meet socially with friends.
What are the most important lessons learnt in this area?	Even simple acts like recognizing people on their birthday can touch people a lot

Church
What is my vision for this area of life?	I want to actively support the vision of my church and be available to serve in whatever capacity that would build up the members and reflect the depth of my relationship with God
What went well during the year in this area?	1.I was able to participate more in volunteering at my church. 2.I was able lead a family focused group with my wife during the year
What didn’t go so well during the year in this area?	1.I was not able to support some of the missionaries in the church as I had planned.
What are the most important lessons learnt in this area?	Church will provide for my spiritual growth but it should not be the only source of my spiritual growth

Community
What is my vision for this area of life?	I want to serve the people in my external cycle in a way that lets them appreciate how God values them and bring them closer to knowing Him
What went well during the year in this area?	1.I was able to post frequently on my blog.
What didn’t go so well during the year in this area?	1.I was not able to engage with my neighbors as I had planned. 2.I was not not able to grow the reach of the blog as I had anticipated.
What are the most important lessons learnt in this area?