What is Self-Reflection?
How Can I Self-Reflect? This is an act of thinking inwardly, reflecting on yourself, your family, ambitions, relationships, and so on.
Self-reflection deals with thinking about an action you took, physical appearance, some habits, changes in behaviors, etc. It is the physical awareness of our thoughts, feelings, actions, and emotions.
Self-reflection is essential for personal growth and relationships with people.
Through the practice of self-reflection, you can figure out your purpose, goals, and actions.
Why is Self-Reflection Important?
- It helps you know where in your life needs amendment
- It helps you realize if you have wronged a loved one
- It helps you understand why you took some actions
- It helps you identify your clarity and purpose in life
- It helps you understand certain feelings and changes within you
- Self-reflection helps you outline your goals and future
- It helps you know what you are capable of doing and not doing
- It helps you understand why things aren’t going as planned
- It helps you have a clear mind
- Self–reflection can improve your life as a person (student, worker, entrepreneur, mom, and so on).
Benefits of Self-Reflection
- A clear Goal
If a person constantly self-reflects, his/her goals are clear and visible because, during self-reflection, you have been able to plan and set achievable goals.
- Healthy relationships with people
Self-reflecting makes you realize things you should react and not react to, and how to treat, tolerate, and be with people. Also, it helps you understand that everyone isn’t equal and therefore needs to be careful with how you treat others. This provides a comfortable space between you and others.
- Understanding yourself (A happy YOU)
Self-reflection makes you discover the YOU in YOU, understanding what works and does not work for you. Self-reflecting allows you to question and answer yourself, it gives you the understanding of WHY and WHAT am I here for?
- Better sleep
After self-reflecting each day or anytime, you will be able to sleep well not doubt yourself. People love to self-reflect during bedtime because it makes you sleep faster and have a good night’s rest with peace of mind.
- Good decision making
Self-reflection makes one good in decision making, whereas, you think before an action to discern its wrong or right.
Ways to Practice Self-Reflection
- Picture a past event and analyze it
This might have been a fight or something, did you overreact? Or a party, how much fun was it?
- Think about what you are grateful for
Everyone has what they are grateful for; it could be family, love life, education, or something to smile about. Be thankful for those memories and laughter.
- Self-checkup
Self-reflection must not only be inward but also on how your health is, if you need medical attention, changes in your body, and the like. It is recommended to see a doctor; an adage says “Health is Wealth ”.
- Talking aloud to yourself
There are people who feel safe talking to themselves aloud to free their thoughts. You feel you can get over anything going through your mind and head; you need to shout it out loud. Please do it and feel alive again.
- Journaling
Studies have shown that when you write down, it releases the brain and this is a big part of self-reflection. Write down how you feel, keep a diary, write down daily affirmations, and write down what you are grateful for.
- Think of questions to ask yourself
This type of self-reflection helps you discover YOU. What can I do? What is my weakness? Have I any plans for the future? Who do I love? Can I get better at this?
- Meditate
Quiet time, praying, and reading are all part of self-reflecting.
- Plan/set Goals
The self-reflection endpoint is planning and setting goals on what to look over, improve, consider, and decide and how to go about things.
Planning goals makes life easier and vision clear on what to do and not to do
- Go for counseling
Self-reflecting can be hurting sometimes when you feel some things should have happened and didn’t, ways you should have responded to certain actions, etc.
Do not beat yourself, stay calm and forget about the past. You can’t change the past but work on the future.
It’s okay to go for counseling when you have doubts about your being, future, and plans. Seek help from psychologists or a close person who you can trust.
No One is an Island, we all need another.
Examples of Self-Reflection
This can be a daily, or weekly basis to think through everything that has happened.
- What inspired me this week?
- What am I proud of?
- Was I rude or acted badly to anyone?
- What happened at work/school today?
- What can I work on for the future?
- Is there a solution to this problem?
- Who are the people I cherish the most?
- I know I am good and I can do this
- If I try this, what would be the outcome?
Need help in your self-reflection process? Let me know in the comments
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