Why You Should Make Time for Self Reflection
Life busy?
Is your to-do list controlling your life?
When was the last time you stopped to just…be?
How often do you stop to take time for self-reflection?
If your answer is yes, yes, never and huh? Then I am here to tell you you are not alone.
We are conditioned to believe a full life is one with an infinite to do list. And success is measured by how efficiently things get crossed off.
Pressing the pause button on your list of “should-do’s” and taking some time to reflect on what you really want out of life is essential to living the full and successful life we all have been chasing.
Here are 5 Reasons Why You Should Take Time for Self Reflection:
Self Reflection Allows You To Rest
Taking the time to pause and reflect allows you to slow down your day and your mindset. Rather than moving from one task to the next without thought, taking some time to pause in between, and check in with yourself, can save you from burn out and exhaustion.
It Is Essential For Self Improvement
Without pausing to reflect on our successes or failures, we don’t grow. We repeat mistakes expecting different outcomes because we haven’t paid attention to how we feel or how people have reacted. This keeps us in a perpetual cycle of misunderstanding ourselves and others. By taking a moment to reflect on our daily lives, we can make small changes to improve and set new goals.
The First Step To Self Care Is Self Reflection
How do you know what you want if you have never asked yourself? Reflecting on your inner self, goals, dreams, and life in general is a great way to take care of yourself. Asking yourself what you need in order to be at peace is the first step to obtaining it.
It Ensures You Are Living A Life That Is Aligned With Your Values
Often times we get so caught up in life that we don’t question if we are living the one we actually want. Self reflection prompts you to ask the question “Does this align with my values and lead me to the future I want? Or does this actually hinder my goals.” This was the question I asked when I finally decided to get sober. There is no amount of alcohol that will help me with my goal of improving my self care and mental health. So I removed it from my life completely.
Self Reflection Helps You Live In The Moment
Taking moments throughout the day to check in on how you feel is what it means to live in the moment. This is something I have a particularly difficult time with and the reason I am intentional about my self reflection. Sometimes it can be difficult not to let you mind wander to something on your to do list that is “more important”. Or to worry about time constraints and how your decisions will affect the future. When you find yourself worrying or becoming distracted by your own thoughts, do this. Take a deep breath (or three) and focus your attention on the sights, sounds and smells around you.
How to Begin a Practice of Self Reflection
My first step to practicing self reflection was to start a journal practice. It was a necessary step in order to figure out exactly where I wanted this year to go. What did I need? What did I want? Where did I see my future going? Honestly, I had no idea. It is almost like my brain had literally blocked all my wants and desires in order to raise a family. How messed up is that?!
Don’t know where to start? Read more about starting a journaling habit here.
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