Appreciating 2021

Deborah DeLue • December 23, 2021

The Art of Applied Visual Thinking

The official newsletter of Applied Visual Thinking SUPERHEROES. Vol. 2 No. 26 December 25, 2021

If you were with us at the end of 2021, you might remember the two Put On Your 2021 Goggles articles we did in late December. We went through a couple of visual thinking exercises to generate a list of three positive, forward-focused words you'd like to focus on in the coming year. If you missed the articles, you can find them here and here.

My three words for 2021 were Courageous, Connected, and Thriving. They expressed how I wanted to feel, be and show up in 2021. They have served to keep me focused and on track amid another wild and crazy year. For example, I was at my best in 2021 when I courageously asked for referrals.

At this time of year, I find it helpful to take a few minutes to look back at the year and appreciate what's gone well, even before deciding on new words for the next year.

A little applied visual thinking is just the thing to help you understand the times when you have been at your best.

All you need is 6 minutes, one of your 2021 words (if you have them), something to draw with, and something to draw on.

Want to play along?

Grab your favorite pen and a sheet of paper, and let's dive in.

Step 1: Fold your paper in half lengthwise and again in the other direction, then unfold it, splitting your paper into four
equal rectangles.

Step 2: Starting from the upper left, label each section as - At My Best, Who & What, When, and Impact/Outcome.

Step 3: In the At My Best section, take 1 minute to write down a short sentence about a time when you were at your best in 2021. Bonus points if you include one of your 2021 words.

Step 4: In the Who & What section, take 2 minutes to draw a few stick figures and icons representing the people and things involved in your at your best moment.

Step 5: In the When section, take 2 minutes to draw a simple timeline of the sequence of events involved in your best moment.

Step 6: In the Impact/Outcome section, take 1 minute to write out a sentence or two about how your best moment impacted your life, work, or relationships.

Step 7: Take a moment to appreciate your work and tack it up somewhere where you'll bump into it occasionally to remind yourself of what has worked well in the past.

Repeat this exercise anytime you need a boost or before embarking on a new challenge or change.

Visually appreciating your strengths is a fast, easy way to take off on a positive note.

Now that you've looked back you may be ready to pick out some new words for next year. You can check out the 2021 articles here and here to see the process we mapped out.

By the way, my words for 2022 are Energetic, Optimistic, Fruitful and Blessed.