Let’s Talk Self-Reflection
My space for self-reflection has always been while jogging, walking or hiking through nature.
Journaling never was an option for me, and I used to brush off suggestions to even try. I had found my preference and was quite happy to stick to it.
Then, a coach who I greatly admire – Maddalena Fumagalli, launched her Windseeker Coaching Writing Club which hosts sessions each Monday morning and I decided to dip my toes into the waters of self-reflection on the notepad.
Needless to say, I am now a regular at the writing sessions. I still reflect while outdoors, but writing thoughts and feelings down add additional value to the self-reflection journey.
Whether you spend time in the great outdoors, meditate, practice breathing exercises or are a fan of journaling, self-reflection is a great way to show up for yourself. You are required to be present, avoid distractions and focus on what is important to you and your development.
A couple of benefits of self-reflection are getting to know yourself better, seeing the bigger picture, becoming more self-aware, acknowledging achievements, helping gain a clearer view of your challenges, identifying areas of improvement and tracking your progress.
If you look at a project or process at work, for example, regular evaluation and optimization are key success factors. During cooking, one often tweaks the recipe here and there to enhance the flavours and create a special meal. So why is self-reflection not a regular activity in all our lives?
I encourage you to regularly check in with yourself. It may be hard but be completely honest with yourself. Can you identify areas for improvement? Do you have regular habits and patterns that keep occurring? Are you living your values?
No matter what your favourite self-reflection method is, the consistency is always the key. Keeping track of your progress can be extremely motivating. Just remember to be kind, forgiving and patient with yourself.
Get in touch if you would like to chat about self-reflection methods or would like more information on how to get started.
