Is Self-Reflection One of Your Most Important Topics?
Self-reflection is a valuable activity in all situations: Professional, familiar, educational, and personal. The most successful individuals use this tool for productivity, problem-solving, and rejuvenation.
The Woman Post | Carolina Rodríguez Monclou
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Self-reflection requires thinking seriously, meditating, evaluating, and reflecting on our behaviors, thoughts, attitudes, motivations, and desires. It is the process of diving into our thoughts and emotions and determining the big "why?" behind them.
Practicing self-reflection requires discipline and intentionality. It requires pausing from the chaos of life and simply taking time to think and reflect on it, which is not easy for many people to do. But it is a precious practice.
This practice is an intimate process in which we pay attention to what surrounds us and what is happening inside us in a conscious, non-judgmental, and kind way. Thanks to self-reflection, we become aware of ourselves, thoughts, feelings, and our place in the world.
There are many ways to practice self-reflection, from meditation to writing. Meditation leads us to observe what happens to us and consciously experience the present. Meanwhile, by writing, we put our thoughts and feelings in order. Having a meditation diary will help us identify patterns, habits, and recurring themes in our life. Practicing it daily will allow us to become the best version of ourselves.
The lack of reflection causes us to keep running even when things are not going well. Consequently, we do the same things repeatedly, even if those things aren't producing the expected results. In short words, we feel like we're just trying to stay afloat. For this reason, incorporating self-reflection into our lives will bear fruit.
3 Ways to Practice Self-Reflection
1. Journaling: The spontaneous writing you can do in the morning for fifteen minutes or so. You let out what comes up without forcing or judging.
2. Identify the essential questions: Here are some reflective questions you can ask yourself to help you better connect with your feelings and emotions.
-Who am I, really?
-Am I holding on to something I need to let go of?
-What matters most in my life?
-If this were the last day of my life, would I have the same plans for today?
Also read: SELF-IMAGE AND THE IMPORTANCE OF KNOWING YOUR WORTH
-Am I living true to myself?
-Am I letting matters that are out of my control stress me out?
3. Talk to yourself out loud: Sometimes, hearing yourself talk can help you have major realizations. When we put in words what's on our minds, we organize chaos. Sometimes, the things that sound scary and impossible in our minds are not that terrible when we talk about them.
In conclusion, self-reflection is one of the most suitable habits to create a positive, constructive, and conscious mindset and connect with yourself. It allows us to evaluate and process what we have experienced.
When we are in reactive mode, we don't take the time to consider our actions and words. We react to whatever circumstance comes our way most of the time. This can lead us to say and do things that we regret. To avoid this, self-reflection allows us to think deeply and reflect on the meaning of our circumstances, emotions, and motivations. This practice will enable us to live a more fulfilling, wholesome, and healthy life.