Self Reflection
Learning from Experience
What is Self-Reflection?
Self-reflection is simply the act of pausing to look inwards. It’s about taking a quiet moment to think about your experiences, thoughts, and actions—not to judge them, but to understand them better.
Why is it a superpower for building resilience?
When you self-reflect, you start to see patterns. You learn what makes you happy, what triggers your stress, and why you react in certain ways. This understanding is key to learning from your experiences, both good and bad. It empowers you to make more positive choices for yourself in the future, making you better prepared for the next challenge.
This doesn't need to be complicated. It can be as simple as asking yourself at the end of the day: "What went well today?" or "What challenged me, and what can I learn from it?"
Putting Pen to Paper: The Power of Reflective Writing
While self-reflection often happens in your head, the act of writing your thoughts down can make the process even more powerful. It gives your feelings clarity and structure, helping you turn vague ideas into concrete lessons.
Reflective writing isn't about creating a perfect essay; it's a private tool that helps you to:
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Connect the dots: Clearly link an event, your reaction, and the outcome.
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Understand your patterns: Spot recurring thoughts and behaviours—both helpful and unhelpful.
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Learn from experience: Pinpoint exactly what you could do differently next time.
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Track your growth: Create a personal record of your journey and see how far you've come.
How to Start: It doesn't need to be formal. Just grab a notebook or open a document and try answering a simple prompt, like: "What was the most challenging part of my day, and why?"
Why not have a go at this self-reflection tool yourself...
Learning from Experience
Think about an experience or situation where the outcome was not what you wanted. Reflect on the situation, consider how you reacted and decide if you would respond differently next time and why.