How Self-Reflection Gives You a Happier and More Successful Life

Is the process of thinking back on previous events and interpreting them through your experience. 

It’s about taking a step back and reflecting on your life, behavior and beliefs.

• It improve self-awareness.
• It allows you to understand and see things from a different point of view. 
• It allows you to respond, not react.
• It facilitates a deeper level of learning.
• It improves confidence.
• It makes you challenge your assumptions.

• STOP: Take a step back from life or a particular situation.
• LOOK: Identify and get perspective on what you notice and see.
• LISTEN: Listen to your inner guide, the innate wisdom that bubbles up when you give it time and space to emerge.
• ACT: Identify the steps you need to take moving forward to adjust, change or improve.

• Reflect on YOU. This includes who you are and what you want for your life. 
• Reflect on the areas of your life that are important to you. This might include your relationships, home and family, career, health and well-being, finances, goals, spirituality and person growth, and fun and recreation.

• How do I feel overall about this area of my life? 
• What’s working? What’s not working?
• What do I want more of – or less of?
• What are my accomplishments? 
• What do I want? What are my hopes or goals?
• What am I grateful for?
• How would I improve this area of my life? What actions can I take?

• New Years: reflect on the year that has passed and identify what you want (your intentions, goals, desires) in the year ahead.
• Milestones: birthdays, anniversaries, the Spring equinox, a religious holiday or any date that has significance or importance to you.
• Monthly or Weekly: like Sunday to reflect on the week before.
• A daily practice of self-reflection is probably one of the best ways to create a habit. 
• After an ‘Event’: a  terrible work meeting or a bad interaction with someone.
• Whenever you feel like you’re off track, unhappy, stressed or demotivated, it’s time to take a step back, reflect and regroup.

• Grab a Journal: when you see something, you are able to process it in a different way. 
• Schedule uninterrupted time where you have space, feel quiet and can focus.
• Join a group or find someone to do this with.
• Take the stance of a neutral observer. When you step back from a situation and view things as if you were a fly on the wall, it’s incredibly insightful. 
• Meditate. Something powerful happens when you don’t ‘think’ about something. Things bubble up.