Thinking: the talking of the soul with itself.
~ Plato
What is the value of reflection? You know, thinking. Pausing. Breathing — as if your life depended on it.
I subscribe to a newsletter from a site called LifeVestInside. A recent version featured advice on reflection, which got me thinking about thinking…
Why is reflection valuable and why should you carve out some time to reflect today?
In the words of Pete Hall and Alisa Simeral, “The more reflective you are, the more effective you are.”(1) So, what is reflection? In its simplest form, it’s thinking about, or “reflecting” on what you do. It’s the idea of learning from experience, in that you think about what you did, and what happened, and decide from that what you would do differently next time.
You can incorporate reflection at work, at home, and even in your writing routine, but it’s surely a worthwhile practice to have in your life. Thinking about what has happened is part of being human. However, the difference between casual ‘thinking’ and ‘reflecting’ is that reflection requires a conscious effort to think about events, and develop insights into them. Once you get into the habit of using reflective practice, you will probably find it useful both at work and at home.
How can you get started? Spend some time reflecting today! You don’t need an appointment or a meeting invite. Find ten (or even five) minutes to acknowledge a recent accomplishment and, thinking back on it, identify specific ways in which you would improve if you had the chance to do it over again.
Reflection is a means of keeping an eye on yourself while you’re doing what you’re doing. It’s as if you’re holding up a mirror and evaluating your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors even as you’re going about everyday life.
Give it a try, after all, today’s reflection becomes tomorrow’s direction!
My reflection for the day? I need to spend more time reflecting!
(1) The Cycle Of Reflective Teaching, Pete Hall and Alisa Simeral, www.TeachThought.com
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This post was previously published on Writers’ Blokke.
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