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The end of the year marks a new beginning and invites a pause for reflection. It's a great time to take stock of the past year and look ahead to the future. Each December, I reflect on 10 questions for this very purpose.

Whether you are a paralegal, a paralegal student or you just want to be your best in work and life, the habit of reflection can build self-awareness, effectiveness and flexibility and, if done right, it can help you establish and achieve more meaningful goals.

As we step into the last weeks of the year, I encourage you to ponder over these questions, during your commute or a quiet lunch. Let your thoughts develop and stay with the questions over the next few weeks.

The Past Year

What went well? Twelve months went by—mostly likely very fast. How did they go Acknowledge all that worked well: the goals you achieved, the events and circumstances you feel good about. This will encourage you and likely surprise you, perhaps enough to make your year better than you first thought.

Who needs to be acknowledged? After considering what went well, think about the people who made it possible. Let them know. Expressing gratitude will make them feel good, it will make you joyful as well. Albert Schweitzer said, “At times, our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.”

How did you grow this past year? If you are having trouble answering this question, you need to create goals for yourself. Leaders must continually learn, develop and grow. By the end of the year you should be a better version of yourself in some way. Maybe smarter, more informed, more skilled in some areas? Stagnation is not a good thing for personal and professional well-being.

What were the crowning moments for you and why? This is about identifying the stand-out moments where life just felt right and good. Why they were so meaningful? Those moments strengthen the self-awareness of your values and character strengths.

What's not working? What happened to the positivity from those earlier questions? Take an honest look to acknowledge what isn't working any more. Perhaps a work or life situation that was fine for a long while isn't working now. All things change; have you changed too? This is a tough question, but if you are true to yourself, this could reveal insights leading to more meaningful goal-setting for the year ahead.

The Year Ahead

What changes will you be making? As you leave 2018 behind, what modifications do you need to prepare for? Will there be big changes happening in your personal life or at work? Or perhaps an intentional change you want to create? Naming such changes can sharpen your focus and planning to help you get ready.

Who will you connect with more in the year ahead? Is it time to put more priority in certain relationships? Consider your work, family and social relationships. Who do you need to reconnect with or perhaps start new relationships with? What relationships need repair? How about your relationship with yourself?

What kind of leader, colleague, friend or partner do you want to be? You wear many roles in work and life. Think about how you are performing in each of these roles. Do you want to be better? Create intentions that you will act on.

What do you want? Now it's time to think about your goals, intentions and possibilities for the year ahead. Write your goals down and make them specific and concrete.

How will you put this into action? Of course, having a goal is only the start. You also have to back that up with a plan, commitments and action! What will you do?

And lastly, the answer to many of the questions above is: join your county or regional paralegal association. The benefits of membership will provide the support and social relationships needed for your pathway to growth.

Harry A. Reichner, president of the Philadelphia Association of Paralegals (PAP), is a paralegal at Cozen O'Connor, where he focuses on real estate, finance, corporate and transactional matters for clients ranging from individuals to start-up businesses, privately held companies and publicly traded, multi-national corporations.