As November rolls in, it brings with it a sense of introspection. This month, themed “Remember, Reflect, Refocus,” serves as a perfect bridge to prepare for the year ahead. With 2 months, 8 weeks and 61 days and the hustle and bustle of the holiday season fast approaching, it’s essential to take a step back and evaluate our journeys. Are we truly moving toward the goals we’ve set for ourselves? In my mission to inspire positive change, I encourage you to delve into your self-care, self-development, and self-empowerment as we approach 2024.
Reflecting on the past year, we can often see where we’ve succeeded and where we might need to shift our focus and trust me there is still time to achieve your goals and realize your dreams. This self-reflection is crucial; it allows us to acknowledge our achievements, understand our challenges, and clarify our motivations. As the insightful Gail Sheehy said, “If we don’t change, we don’t grow. If we don’t grow, we aren’t really living.” Let’s explore how we can embrace this idea in our lives through self-development. For those who know me, you know I love self-development and I choose to prioritize self-development personally and professionally.
Remember: Acknowledge Your Journey
Before we can move forward, we must first remember where we’ve come from. What were your goals at the beginning of 2024? Take a moment to celebrate your accomplishments thus far—no matter how small. Did you pick up a new hobby, learn a new skill, advance your business or improve your health? Each step counts, and acknowledging these milestones is vital in keeping your motivation alive.
Reflect: Identify Your ‘Why’
Now that we’ve remembered our journeys, it’s time to reflect deeply on our ‘why.’ Why do you want to achieve your goals? Understanding your underlying motivations can provide clarity and reignite your passion. Is it to improve your health, create a better work-life balance, or foster stronger relationships? Whatever it is, reconnecting with your ‘why’ will help you stay grounded as you move forward. Remember too, when you know why, the way will appear (especially if you fuel your why will passion).
One of my guiding principles for 2024 is the concept of self-change, which aligns closely with self-development. The act of changing ourselves—whether through learning, personal growth, or overcoming challenges—is at the heart of achieving our goals.
Refocus: Set Intentions for the Future
With your memories and reflections in mind, it’s time to refocus your energy for the remainder of 2024. As we gear up for the new year, here are my top tips to help you embrace self-development in the remaining days, weeks and months of 2024 to fast start your 2025. Why wait for the future to change your future.
1. Cultivate a Growth Mindset
Embrace the idea that your abilities can improve with effort and dedication. Adopting a growth mindset not only boosts motivation but also opens doors to new opportunities. Remember, every challenge is a chance to learn and grow. An immediate way to achieve a growth mindset is by way of stacking a new practice that is challenging on top of a habit that are consistent with. For example, if you know that you need to stretch to reduce joint pain and stiffness from prolong sitting at your desk during the day, commit to stretching following your workouts. Just do it! Within 2 weeks of habit stacking a new fitness exercise (stretching) with an existing fitness habit (walking or weight-training 2 days a week), you will experience the positive benefits from stretching and wonder why you didn’t stretch regularly before. This technique works with any and every habit you do regularly. My favorite new habit-stacking strategy. Every time I brush my teeth I bring a glass of water to the sink and consumer 2 extra glasses a water as day (sometimes 3😊).
2. Keep Learning
Learning is the foundation of self-development. Explore different avenues for knowledge, from books and podcasts to online courses. For example, have you checked out my podcast, A MO’ment with Mo? It’s a great resource to learn while you’re on the move! The more you learn, the more you empower yourself to create change. If you commute to the office, even a couple times a week use your commute time to listen to a podcast (trade in social scrolling time for self-development/learning time).
Join me for my November “MO’ve with Mo” Podcast, featuring Toronto’s first financial therapist, Aseel El-Baba. In this enlightening episode, we’ll explore the often-overlooked emotional aspects of our relationship with money. Aseel will introduce strategies to understand and heal your financial mindset, helping you to understand that by learning how to break free from limiting beliefs and cultivate a healthier, more empowering relationship with your finances, you can change your relationship with money. Tune in for practical insights and transformative conversations that can change your financial journey for the better! Listen wherever you find your favourite podcasts or visit AMomentWithMo.MoHagan.com.
3. Be Passionate and Persistent
Change doesn’t always happen overnight. It requires patience and tenacity. Combine your passion with persistence, fueled by your ‘why,’ to push through obstacles. Even if you are not sure of your ‘why’ always turn to your passion as this will fuel your actions. Your unwavering commitment to daily actions in the direction of your goals will be the catalyst for meaningful change.
4. Follow Mo’s Circle of Change
To navigate the inevitable challenges of self-development, I encourage you to follow my Circle of Change framework.
- It begins with Courage—the courage to step outside your Comfort zone—try new things.
- Foster Connections and seek support to get the help and accountability you might need
- Practice steps 1 & 2 to enhance your Confidence, making it easier to navigate the Changes you desire in your life.
Check out “Mo’s Guide to MO’ve your Self-Care, Self-Development and Self-Empowerment Forward and Create Change in 2024” for a review of my Circle Of Change.
Conclusion: The Power of Self-Development
As we approach the end of the year, let’s remember, reflect, and refocus our energies toward self-development. Embracing change isn’t just about setting goals; it’s about transforming ourselves from within. By cultivating a growth mindset, committing to daily consistent learning and action, and practicing persistence, we can pave the way for a fulfilling 2025.
Let’s make this November a time for introspection and empowerment, ensuring we enter the new year ready to take on our biggest dreams. Remember, you have the power to create the change you seek both in your life and in the lives of those around you.
