Reflecting on Your Life: A 5-Star Review Journey

What’s in a Review?

We often turn to reviews to guide our choices – from products and services to books and movies. Yet, at the core, a review is nothing more than one person’s opinion. Still, we place immense weight on them, seeking assurance that our investments of time and money are worthwhile.

Yet, in reality, our opinion is the one that truly matters. Have you ever loved a movie that critics panned? Your enjoyment is what counts. So, why aren’t we affording the same consideration to ourselves and our lives?

Measures of Success

Consider the measures of success when rating a movie. Were you entertained? Did you connect with the characters? Were you transported to another world, even if just for a short time? These are all valid criteria for assessing a film’s success.

Now, what about rating yourself or your life? What thoughts come to mind? Likely, it’s accomplishments and professional proficiency. It’s natural; we’ve grown up equating our identity with our professions. But what if we applied criteria similar to those for a movie?

Self-Review

Answer the following questions and, based on your responses, assign yourself a rating:

• Do you enjoy being you? (Yes, Most of the time, Sometimes, Rarely, No)

• Do you resonate with who you are? (Yes, Most of the time, Sometimes, Rarely, No)

• Do you like who you see in the mirror each morning? (Yes, Most of the time, Sometimes, Rarely, No)

• What rating would you give yourself?

Life-Review

Answer these questions and, based on your responses, assign your life a rating:

• Do you enjoy your life right now? (Yes, Most of the time, Sometimes, Rarely, No)

• Are you proud of what you do and how you engage with the world around you? (Yes, Most of the time, Sometimes, Rarely, No)

• Are you excited about the direction you’re moving and where your life is headed? (Yes, Most of the time, Sometimes, Rarely, No)

• What rating would you give your life right now?

Now What?

Why is it important to pause and review ourselves and our lives? Picture this: not stopping for periodic check-ins is like working on a project without assessing its progress until the very end. This can result in wasted time and resources. A better approach is to create checkpoints along the way, allowing you to adjust course or even start anew if necessary.

Similarly, we are ongoing projects, constantly evolving. Taking the time to review ourselves provides the opportunity to make necessary adjustments. Do we stay the course, change direction, or embark on an entirely new journey?

Time is our most precious resource, and our lives are invaluable. By pausing for self-review, we gain insight into how to thrive, not just survive. It’s time to aim for a 5-star review!