“By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.” Confucius.

Over the years my appreciation of some time for reflection has grown. I’ve found that it has helped me to reduce the chatter in a busy mind. It’s contributed to a greater feeling of calmness. I find that it’s a great way to draw breath and evaluate things

Setting aside a specific time to reflect is a great habit to develop. You can enhance the benefit of this quiet time by combining it with asking yourself some powerful questions. Your responses can be recorded in a notebook or journal for future reference.

Asking yourself some questions will allow you to take stock, to review where you are in life at the present time and will help you to get clarity on where you want to be. Questions will allow you to straddle the space between your head and heart (i.e. your emotion and intellect) and inform the action steps to take.

Marilee Adams wrote about the power of questions in her book with a great title “Change Your Questions, Change Your Life.” In the book she introduces the concept of question thinking, an easy-to-use system for transforming thinking, action and results. Marilee claims that with new perspectives and alternatives, you can take powerful, practical steps to transform your work, relationships and life.

An excellent way to get to know yourself better and increase your self-awareness is to ask yourself some powerful questions. This will enable you to delve more deeply into who you really are. If you ask the right questions, you can gain valuable insights and clarity into what you truly wish to achieve and experience in life.

I would recommend making personal reflection a daily habit. You will reap many benefits and rewards from just 10 minutes of reflection. I suggest you look to do this at the same time each day to help embed it as a habit. If you find it challenging to sit and reflect, you may benefit from combining reflection with exercise such as walking, cycling or running.

Regular reflection will help you to learn from mistakes and help them to become valuable lessons rather than something to feel upset about. It provides the brain an opportunity to pause and relax amidst the chaos of life. It will also help with your creativity and generate new ideas.

Sorting through your observations and experiences helps to create greater meaning. Having this meaning helps to inform your future actions and will have a positive influence on your mindset.

When you’re feeling overwhelmed with your workload or the projects you’re involved with, it will enable you to get things into better perspective.  This will have a positive effect on your happiness and reduce stress levels.

Author Tim Ferriss made an interesting observation about a benefit of reflection. He said: “It is important that you pay as much attention to appreciation as you do to achievement. Achievement without reflection on what you have and the gratitude for that is worthless.”

If you’re unable to make it part of your daily routine, you may want to introduce a weekly reflection, where you review what has happened and record any insights.

Your weekly review could include answering these questions:

  • What has worked well this week?
  • What has been a challenge this week?
  • What have been my key insights and lessons?
  • What can I be grateful for this week?

 
This week, why not pause for a few moments and consider what action you can take to carve out more time for reflection.

To arrange a free no obligation consultation, please contact Stephen Pauley via the contact form or by e mail: Stephen@befirstclass.co.uk