In order to answer those questions (or others like them), we must step back from the busy-ness of our lives and notice how things are going. Once we have the "birds-eye view" perspective, it's easier to see what we can celebrate as successes in our lives or, on the other hand, what might need a little tweaking!
Metacognition and self-awareness are keys to making changes that we'd like to see in our lives or strengthening what is already going well.
Let's look at our end-of-the-year holiday season with a birds-eye view of ourselves. Step back and ask, "What have I noticed about how I respond to holiday stresses and situations?" "What do I need to take care of myself in the midst of what seem like overwhelming demands at work and at home and in my community?"
Here is where the character strength of curiosity comes in! When we are curious, we ask a lot of questions. Often we ask questions about other people, but asking curious, nonjudgmental questions about ourselves is a form of metacognition. If we ask questions with a growth mindset, an intention to learn and grow from the answers, we will find ourselves open to change and growth
Have you used your metacognition and curiosity to ask how you are usually affected by the holiday season or how what you usually do affects other people?"
