7 Reasons to Reflect More

Are you giving yourself the time to reflect undisturbed and regularly? 
If not, I would like to invite you to set aside time regularly for reflection, as it brings so many benefits.

The Whole World Reflects Us

The common meaning of reflection is when an image (sound or energy) mirrors back from a surface. When we look at ourselves in the mirror, for example, or take a selfie. When we meet others, we also get a reflection on ourselves – their faces and bodies express something related to our meeting. If we smile, we hopefully get a smile back. We are projecting on the world what we think about it, so the whole world is a potential mirror to us. And then we also have our own body and inner world mirroring our state.

In other words, a massive amount of information about ourselves = the basis and potential to know ourselves and become more conscious!  

7 Reasons to Reflect More

1. Catch your new learnings
In sports, it is common for the players to look again and again at especially significant sequences – to learn from and continue doing (or not). Playing the movie extra slowly helps to see the details. What have you learned today? How did that happen? 

2. Being authentic about our state
How do you feel right now? Are you pretending anything? What is true? 
What makes you feel good and happy? 

3. Learning to know the unknown
What is it that we hide for ourselves? What do we fear, feel ashamed or guilty of? 
Are we embracing both our light and dark sides? 
What do we not like in others? There we have it. 

4. Find and sort out alternatives
Many alternatives can make us feel rich, or overwhelmed, before we have reflected on them. The other end – no alternatives at all – is rarely true – time to reflect!

5. Unwind yourself and get new ideas and solutions
When we reflect on something we unwind and reveal our thoughts, feelings, assumptions, etc. We start to see more clearly. What has been hidden starts to show, and we get access to new thoughts, ideas and solutions.

6. Clarity: commitment, decisions and next step
When reflecting on our position and image, we can make important decisions and find the next step. What do we want? Are we committed to something? How do I want to live my life in the first place?

7. Be in integrity
Are we in integrity in all our parts of life? If not, what would that look like? 

Reflecting on Our Boarders

When we reflect on ourselves, or a certain question, we do that by going to the borders to see what is under, over, besides, above and more, of that first impression/surface/image/thought/feeling. 

Deeper
With reflection, we inquire about what is under the surface. We dig deeper, finding our roots and core values. We discern what is authentic for us. 

Higher, more distant
We can also step back and see the bigger picture. What do we see if we zoom out? What is the context? What is the big pattern? Over a lifetime? Or generations?

Different angles
And what happens when we reflect on the image from different angles and perspectives?
How do we think others perceive us? 

Closer
Zooming in on the details, we can for example distinguish what exactly we did when we succeeded, so we can do it again. 

Inside – Outside
If applicable – how does it feel to be inside versus outside? 

Daily Questions for Reflection

Give yourself undisturbed time, at least 30 minutes.
Be open and willing to listen to both your mind, body and spirit. The head, heart and belly contribute with different perspectives. Invite the whole of you. 

• How have I been today?
• Did the day turn out as I had imagined?
• If it didn’t turn out the way I wanted – how did I handle it?
• What have I learned today?
• What can I appreciate today?

Enjoy your time!

Anna Eriksson, ICF Master Certified Coach