Life often goes at a rapid pace and we can get swept along, moving from one thing to the next without pausing for breath.
When you stop, new insights have space to emerge. When you have time to reflect, you can begin to notice yourself and other people in a different way, becoming much more aware of your motives and the impact you are having, both positive and in more challenging ways.
Reflection enables us to look more deeply. When we look without adding anything, it enables us to be more honest with ourselves. What we find is not always pretty or edifying, but once we are aware of what is happening for us, we are at choice and can change it.
Reflection may not be easy, but it is certainly simple. It is the act of stopping, and then looking and listening internally to tune in to what is really going on. John Driscoll has developed a great model for reflection that is powerful, and easy to remember:
What?
First, we notice: What is happening? What am I experiencing? What are my reactions? What are others doing?
So What?
Then, we begin to make sense: What do I feel about what I think? What do I think about what I feel? What’s driving me here? What meaning does this have for me? What am I learning?
Now What?
Finally, we decide how to respond: What are the implications of what I have learned? What will I now do differently? What do I want to explore further? Who else can benefit from my insights?
Learning to reflect is a powerful way to get back in touch with yourself, enhancing your well-being. What do you need to make space to reflect on?
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