There are times in life when a personal stocktake can be helpful. Reviewing what’s gone before, whether it’s done after university or an apprenticeship, between jobs or at the end of a relationship, is a chance to think through what went well, what might have been improved, what was fun and what would, in hindsight, most definitely have been better avoided. It’s also a valuable opportunity to step back and decide how – and, possibly, with whom – to move forward.
That doesn’t, of course, mean it will be easy or straightforward. If work appraisals are hard, assessing as honestly and objectively as possible one’s life’s progress is akin to climbing Mount Everest. It’s no mean feat. And for many it can feel insurmountable, especially if the years seem to be hurtling by and the so-called midlife crisis is approaching in the near-distance.