Self-reflection is known as a part of the process of having self-introspection that is done by seeing back and reflecting on many things that have been done in life, like experiences, decisions, and habits. Self-reflection will help you have a better life next time.
Doing self-reflection can open up opportunities for you to see the important things from every situation you have been through. When you have it regularly and on the right way, the self-reflection will make your life better, balanced and happy.
Benefits of Self Reflection
There are various benefits of self-reflection that you can get, including:
1. Understand your strengths and weaknesses
Having a self-reflection will help you to understand your strengths and weaknesses well.
Use reflection to develop the strengths to some concrete skills. Meanwhile, by knowing your shortcomings, you can find out your limits in doing something.
2. Finding valuable lessons
Self-reflection can also help you gain new perspectives and lessons from the things you have experienced. This allows you to be optimistic about the future because you already know that the worst in the present can be beneficial in the future.
3. Responding to something wiser
When you faced a situation and problem, you will respond to the situation carelessly. However, this will lead to bad words or react with regretful actions.
Self-reflection makes you aware of the consequences of your words and also your actions. That way, in the future you can consider the best course of action you can take in certain situations.
How to Apply Self Reflection
Here are some ways to apply self-reflection in everyday life:
1. Prepare important questions
Before doing self-reflection, you need to prepare some important questions for yourself to answer. Some examples of these questions include:
- What’s my biggest fear?
- How does this fear affect my life?
- What’s my biggest regret?
- Will I get rid of this regret?
- Is there a way that I can become a better friend, co-worker, or partner?
In addition to the questions above, you can also prepare a variety of other questions, for example, questions that may have been on your mind all along, but you haven’t been able to answer.
2. Select the appropriate method
After determining the questions for the self-reflection process, choose a self-reflection method that is comfortable for you to do.
Various methods of self-reflection that you can choose from include meditating, walking, running, or writing. While carrying out the method you have chosen, answer the self-reflection questions you have prepared beforehand.
Remember, when answering self-reflection questions, you need to be honest with yourself about what you’re thinking and feeling.
If you can answer these questions, then try to think about whether there are things you might learn from them. If so, you can apply those lessons to life now.
3. Schedule time for self-reflection
Setting a schedule will help get you into the habit of self-reflection. Try to start short at first, say 10 minutes, and then add time slowly. By doing it regularly, you will feel the maximum benefits of self-reflection.
However, remember that the point of self-reflection is not to beat yourself up or regret things that have happened in your life. Instead, self-reflection is done so that we can learn and be able to make changes for the better in the future.
If all this time you feel you have made many mistakes or regretted many things that happened in the past, it could be that the self-reflection you are doing is not correct. This should not be maintained because it is not good for your self-esteem and mental health.
If this happens to you, don’t hesitate to consult a psychologist. That way, you can be guided to form a new, better perspective on things that were negative for you.
The most important thing is that you don’t need to regret anything that has happened in your life, all things that have passed, let go. If the past is a sheet you have written, then read it and learn from it. The future is a new and untouched sheet, so write what is good for the future without having to try and force you to do what has been written on the back.
No matter how bad someone’s future is, their future is sacred and they have the right to change themselves and feel happy with what they choose in life.
