Mastering Self-Reflection in Any Situation
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Self reflection requires a level of awareness that many people lack. In fact, only 10-15% of Americans are genuinely self-aware, even though most believe they are. In our fast-paced world, taking a moment to pause or step back has become almost a privilege. Nevertheless, self reflection still happens everywhere, but sometimes, not in a way intended. This article explores the process of self reflection and what makes certain things situational and universal.
How Self-Reflection Works
Self reflection is the process of understanding what influences and drives you to say or do certain things. In general, it refers to a personal evaluation of attitudes, motivations, and desires. When practiced, self reflection helps identify which words, thoughts, and actions serve you and which do not. This makes you confront both the good and bad aspects of yourself, to gain perspective of how to move forward.
The key is to respond thoughtfully to the insights gathered during self reflection.
At its core, self-reflection is guided by open-ended questions. These questions are meant to explore your values, problems, opinions, and beliefs. Some of the most common reflective questions are:
- What did I learn from this experience?
- How did my actions affect others?
- What could I have done differently?
Habitually questioning yourself is what separates self-reflection from a surface-level observation. Simply put, self reflection helps you discover what truly brings you peace and happiness.
“At the end of the day, your peace and happiness are what truly matter.” — Munif Ali
The Universal Experience
While subjective in nature, self-reflections reveal a broader, more inclusive human experience. Valuable self-reflections, especially for leaders and careers, involve sentiments that can be universally felt. This includes a level of surprise, failure, and frustration, regardless of the specific details of the situation. In simple terms, there are shared experiences across different personal situations.
Although your circumstances may be personal and relative, universal experiences hold true not in the details, but in the overarching human condition. Emotions like pain, longing, and shame that arise in various self-reflections are universally experienced.
Finding The Truth
To practice self reflection while avoiding narrow-mindedness, remember that your individual situation may represent one aspect of a larger truth. Deepen your understanding by considering the opposite viewpoints to your beliefs. Avoid making assumptions too quickly, and take the time to question yourself. This self reflection process of deeper inquiry leads to greater insight and clarity.
Now that you have the knowledge to deepen your self-reflection process, awareness is equally crucial. Watch our video on “8 Ways To Develop Self Awareness” to get started.
Key Takeaways
- Self-reflections should not stop from thinking and knowing yourself. It should lead you to respond with intent and purpose towards self-development.
- Understand that there are similar sides to different stories, and vice versa.
- To gain valuable insight and clarity from self-reflection, broaden both your awareness and perspective.
Sources
Bailey, J. R., & Rehman, S. (2022, March 4). Don’t underestimate the power of self-reflection. Harvard Business Review. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
Denholm, S. (2020, April 22). Creating audience connection: your truth or universal truth. LinkedIn. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
Gupta, S. (2023, May 25). The importance of self-reflection: how looking inward can improve your mental health. Verywell Mind. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
Perry, E. (2022, December 21). Get to know yourself through the act of self-reflection. BetterUp. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
Reflection.app. (2023, February 13). Self-Reflection 101: What is self-reflection? Why is reflection important? And how to reflect. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
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