Socrates is often quoted as having said, “The unexamined life is not worth living.” This might be a bit of a stretch, and some even question whether Socrates ever said it, but someone obviously said it, as we still quote it today.
However, I do believe that it’s safe to say that an examined life stands a better chance of succeeding in significant ways as opposed to a life which is never examined or evaluated.
Every year in late December, I take some time to both look back and to look ahead. It’s okay to use the past as a guidepost, but not as a hitching post. I don’t want the past to hold me back but to point me forward through lessons learned as I reflect on what happened or didn’t happen, and plan for the next year.
I love what Paul says in Philippians 3:10-14 (ESV):
“That I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
Paul is learning from the past, but not living in the past. With great energy, and Jesus-empowered resolve, he is pressing into what lies before him as he desires increasing maturity in Jesus.
With this in mind, here are some questions we can all ask ourselves as we have begun 2025, while reflecting on 2024. Consider taking a few hours by yourself as you prayerfully consider these questions and write some thoughts down.This new year could look very different as you ponder these questions and respond.
1. What is the greatest lesson you learned this past year that you never want to forget?
2. How might you have behaved or acted differently this past year if you could do it over again?
3. Looking back over the year, what did you set out to do that you didn’t do and why?
4. What key discipline did you live out this past year that had a significant impact on your life? What was the impact?
5. What are you most proud of this past year?
6. What were the key surprises (good or bad) that happened this past year?
7. Which relationships in your life grew this year and which regressed?
8. If you could go back to the beginning of this year, what piece of advice would you give yourself and why?
9. Looking back, what was the overarching theme for the year?
Please don’t just read these probing questions, but take a good block of time and carefully and prayerfully respond to them.
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