Secrets to Successful Reflection

When I was a teenager, I was super critical of everyone and everything. I had high standards, high expectations, a high opinion of myself, and high hopes for my life, and I thought I was being helpful by pointing out what others were doing wrong and how they should improve.

While review and criticism are indeed essential for self-awareness and growth, the way you do it is what matters most. It took me many years to learn the secrets to reflecting with purpose, with kindness, with usefulness, and with compassion: to myself and others.

Reflection is one of the most powerful practices in my life because it allows us to review and learn from challenges but also… remember and celebrate the wins. Which is just as important!

I review along multiple rhythms: weekly, monthly and annually.

When you reflect over the year that was, you clear out your energy, let go of the past, and make space for the year ahead.

Here are my 6 secrets to successful reflection:

• Focus on you, not them: You can’t change anyone but yourself. And when you grow and shine in your own light, you lead by example and inspire others to do the same. 
• Balance the good with the bad: You don’t want to wear rose-coloured glasses, but you also don’t want to duck your head in the sand. Take an objective view and try to see both sides. If you’re a high achiever like me, your “mistakes” are probably etched onto your memory, while your wins disappear like puffs of smoke. It’s so important to practice self-love, self-acceptance and self-compassion and celebrate the wins, too.
• Review regularly and review often: We all get caught up in the doing and forget to take a breath and take a break to reset. Carve out the quiet time to reflect. It’s one of the great things about my Leading Successful Change program - we have built-in prompts in the course, coaching calls and community to reflect and review regularly. 
• Do it on paper if possible: I’m a greenie and try to go digital wherever I can. But when it comes to journaling, there’s something magical about putting pen to paper, your eyes seeing those truths come to life on the page.
• Sharing = freedom: You can totally keep your reflections to yourself. Sharing with a supportive friend, coach, or community helps take the charge away from any shame or guilt of mistakes or challenges, but also provides permission to celebrate the wins.
• Practice over perfection: There’s no right or wrong way to reflect. Your responses are whatever comes up and feels right for you at the time. A regular practice helps you get comfortable with the process, but ad hoc reflection is also super powerful.
  

If you'd like to step through my powerful easy exercises to review your learnings and celebrate your wins using my secrets to successful reflection, download my free 2022 Reflection Journal so you can print it out and ponder over the year that was:

CLICK HERE to download my free 2022 Reflection Journal

Lata xx