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You are here: Home / Free Resource Friday / The Story of Your Year – a free guided reflection
The Story of Your Year – a free guided reflection

Free Resource Friday Personal Stories

The Story of Your Year – a free guided reflection

Last week on the blog, I shared my annual review for The Storytelling Non-Profit. It’s been a big, exciting year and I’m pretty optimistic heading into 2016.

This will be my last blog post for 2015, and as a special thank you for your readership and amazing support I want to give you a gift. Here’s what I made for you:

The Story of Your Year

A guided reflection for 2015

“The Story of Your Year” is a guided reflection to help you process all that’s happened in 2015, and give you space to think about the year ahead. This is the same process that I personally use, and I’m so delighted to share it with you.

Reflection has changed my life in so many ways. On a nearly daily basis, I make time to journal. Usually, this happens in the morning. Some days I don’t get around to it, but that’s okay. I try to let myself off the hook and try to let go of the misguided belief that it’s only effective if I do it daily. Discipline is not what makes reflection effective. The process is what matters.

It was over 3 years ago when I was journaling and realized that I desired something different for my life. I didn’t want to work for an organization. I wanted more freedom and flexibility in my life, and when I reflected on this I realized that I wanted to work for myself.

More recently, reflection has helped me come into further alignment with what I really want to do in my career. That is to help people experience their power by telling their stories. In some ways, I think that’s an extension of my own experiences with journaling.

One of the greatest things that journaling and reflection has brought into my life has been that it’s helped me become a stronger writer. By taking the time to connect with myself and my thoughts, I have found threads of inspiration for writing professionally as well as autobiographically.

Dear friends, I hope you enjoy using “The Story of Your Year.”

I would love hear about your experiences using this guided reflection. I invited you to share your stories here in the comments, or to send me an email – vanessa@thestorytellingnonprofit.com

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About Vanessa Chase Lockshin

My name is Vanessa Chase Lockshin, and I want to empower you to tell your story. In my personal life, finding ways to tell my stories has been a transformational practice. In my fundraising life, I’ve helped hundreds of organizations tell their stories to engage and inspire their donors. To date, my work has helped non-profits raise over $10 million.

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Comments

  1. Leeann says

    December 22, 2015 at 8:07 am

    Thanks, Vanessa, for this lovely guided life tour! This came along at just the perfect time – exactly what I needed to reignite my passion and get energized for 2016! 🙂

  2. Abigail says

    December 22, 2015 at 8:14 am

    Happy New Year, Vanessa! I look forward to receiving the newsletter in 2016, just as I did in 2015.

  3. Amy says

    December 22, 2015 at 8:19 am

    Vanessa,

    As always, thank you for your generosity in sharing your insights and expertise with the perfect blend of warm kindness and professionalism. I look forward to filling out the guided reflection. Interestingly, I will most likely be doing so while I am on a trip for my residency – pursuing my doctoral degree in education with a focus on adult education. I have always been a fan of reflection, and am now learning that it has been the focus of many theorists regarding learning.

    Wishing you wonderful holidays and another amazing year.

    Thank you for everything,
    Amy

  4. Vanessa Chase says

    December 22, 2015 at 9:53 am

    Leann – I am so delighted to hear that! I hope you enjoy the guide!

  5. Vanessa Chase says

    December 22, 2015 at 9:54 am

    Hi Abigail – Thank you so much for the feedback! It’s nice to be taking a little break, but I’ll miss writing weekly.

  6. Vanessa Chase says

    December 22, 2015 at 9:55 am

    Amy – I hope your trip goes well! Your doctoral degree program sounds right up my alley. I do a lot of reading and learning about adult education, which was how I started doing more reflection.

    Hope you have a wonderful holiday season!

  7. Ron C. Peck says

    December 22, 2015 at 10:53 am

    Thank you Vanessa for the opportunity to reflect on 2015 and setting our sights on 2016. I will take the assignment seriously in reflecting back while looking forward. I’ve signed up for the Master Class in 2016. There is so much to share. Enjoy the Holidays!

  8. Mazarine says

    December 22, 2015 at 1:47 pm

    Thank you for this document Vanessa! I can’t wait to use it to reflect on my year! 🙂 And plan the next one! You Rock!

  9. Lisa says

    December 22, 2015 at 1:49 pm

    I too am on the same path of entrepreneurial exploration and am just in the beginning stages of stepping out unto the great unknown. Thanks for your year of storytelling and inspiration. Happy Holidays to you and yours.

  10. Thyonne says

    December 22, 2015 at 2:06 pm

    Vanessa,
    Thank you for all that you share throughout the year. You are my inspiration to keep moving forward. The past week and this one have been tough. I’ve lost a lot of loved ones during the holiday season so reflecting challenges me. On top of that, my dog died last week.

    Just glancing at how you phrased the guide, uplifts my spirits and I’ll cuddle up and take some time to remember the “good” that happened over the past year tonight.

    Looking forward to penning the reflections and all that the new year holds. Thanks for your generosity and care.

    Dr. Thyonne

  11. Vanessa Chase says

    December 27, 2015 at 7:06 am

    Ron – I hope you have a wonderful Holiday season! I’m looking forward to working with you during the Master Class next year.

  12. Vanessa Chase says

    December 27, 2015 at 7:06 am

    Thank you so much, Mazarine! I hope you have a terrific New Year : )

  13. Vanessa Chase says

    December 27, 2015 at 7:09 am

    Thyonne – It was such an honor to read your comment. I’m so glad that we have connected online. I hope that despite the losses you’ve experienced this year, you’ve been able to find gratitude or even a silver lining to it all.

  14. Michelle says

    January 7, 2016 at 10:51 am

    Thank you Vanessa. A timely document and practice. I am going to use it today! Happy New Year!

Hi there!

My name is Vanessa Chase Lockshin and I've helped non-profits raise over $10 million by telling stories that engage and inspire donors. I'm the author of The Storytelling Non-Profit: A practical guide to telling stories that raise money and awareness, and the creator of immersive online training programs that have trained thousands of non-profit professionals. Read More…

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