Last September, I hit a wall.

I was juggling multiple projects, leading a marketing team, and heading into surgery.

Everything felt urgent but unimportant, like I was spinning cracked plates.

My spirit needed a break, and I couldn’t wait to be on medical leave so I could take it.

Twisted, huh?

Two days before surgery at my pre-op visit, my doctor looked at the bug bite I’d scratched open and said, “We’re going to have to postpone. This is an infection risk.”

My stomach sank. Not because I’d have to wait to fix the torn cartilage in my knee…

But because I desperately needed a break from the life I was living.

And surgery was the only way I’d given myself permission to take one.

This new belief to “give yourself permission to take a break” (before your body forces you) came directly from my monthly reflection ritual.

It’s a simple 3 -page practice I’ve kept for years now that’s helped me see patterns, shift beliefs, and get clear on goals for the month ahead.

The result is maintaining a growth mindset no matter what life throws your way.

Since it’s the first day of the month, I wanted to share my process with you.

All you need is notebook, a pen, and 30 minutes.

PAGE 1: THE DAILY WIN LOG

I keep a list of daily wins throughout the month. (If you’re new to this, start today.)

Here's how to do it:

Grab a journal and write in all caps: MAY WINSNumber down the page from 1-31 (one for each day)Every day, document 3 wins

Some days the wins are big. “I closed a client.”

Some days the wins are small. “I enjoyed a walk on the trail.”

Other days, the wins are reframes.

That means looking at something that didn’t go as planned and asking:

“What insight did I gain?”

If you miss a cluster of days, go back and fill them in when you can.

By logging your daily wins, you get a real-time snapshot of the life you’re living…

and the data to meaningfully reflect on it.

PAGE 2: THE OBSERVATORY

Next to the page of wins, leave a blank page.

Title it: WHAT I NOTICED.

If the daily wins page was you lying face up on the shrink’s couch,

this next page is where you scribble notes about what you just said.

Some days, I’ll jot down a line about how certain wins made me feel.

“Proud. Confident. Uncomfortable.”

This is a sign to do more of what builds me up and do less of what drains me.

If I can’t do less, it’s my cue to ask:

“How can I shift my relationship with this?”

Then, on the last day of the month, review your wins and observations with fresh eyes.

You might see some patterns jump out that weren’t obvious before.

PAGE 3: THE MONTHLY REFLECTION

This is where the magic happens.

Look through your wins and observations.

If you don’t have a daily wins log to review for May, that’s okay. Think about how your April went. Then answer the following:

What went well?

List your proudest achievements and capture the overall themes and feelings

What challenges emerged?

Document obstacles and name what didn't work or felt misaligned

What did I learn?

Extract the wisdom from both successes and setbacks

Finally, look back and see if there are things you said you wanted to do but didn’t.

This isn't about self-flogging. It's about alignment.

If your actions didn’t match your goals, this awareness empowers you to:

Renew your commitment with fresh energySay "not now" and reschedule itLet it go completely, freeing up mental space

With that in mind, you can answer:

What do I want to be true in the next 30 days?

Commit to 1-3 outcomes, then map out the actions to take on a weekly basis to make it happen

This 30-minute ritual doesn't just close one month.

It thoughtfully opens the next one and is a core strategy I use to maintain a positive outlook in life.

(For more simple exercises to stay positive, check out the Happiness Advantage.)

Use This AI Prompt to Reveal Your Blind Spots

We all have blind spots in our thinking and planning.

So I asked Claude, “What's a prompt you wish people knew about how to use AI to reflect, reveal blind spots, and set personal goals?”

Let’s just say I was CALLED OUT for my own head trash when I tried it (and given practical tips to get out of my own way this May).


Here’s the prompt:

"I'd like to explore potential blind spots in my monthly planning. Here's what I accomplished last month: [LIST 3-5 KEY ACHIEVEMENTS]. Here's what I didn't complete: [LIST 2-3 UNFINISHED ITEMS]. And here are my top 3 goals for next month: [LIST YOUR GOALS].

Based on this pattern, what potential blind spots might I have in how I approach my work? What underlying beliefs or habits might be limiting my effectiveness? And what one small shift would create the biggest positive impact on my results?"

Sometimes, you need an outside perspective to reveal patterns you're too close to see.

Have questions about this process?

Reply to this email - I read and respond to every message.

Here’s to a happy, fruitful May.

Annabel

P.S. This system is only as good as you sticking with it.

Go ahead and block 30 minutes in your calendar on the last day of the month. Then schedule it as a recurring monthly appointment to reset.

Your future self will thank you 🙂 

P.P.S. If you missed my last newsletter, here’s my approach to quarterly planning and the template to keep track of your goal progress.