Dynamic. Powerful. Nurturing. Curious. Adaptive. Wise. Generous. Wild. Thoughtful. Radiant.
Us women are so multifaceted. We are naturally inclined to be emotionally intelligent, socially adept, multitasking goddesses.
Because of our limitless, expansive nature, we also have a tendency to forget to prioritize the most important person of all - ourselves. Between nurturing families, keeping up with friends, and scheduling meetings with clients, life can feel as if it’s moving too fast to prioritize our own wellness by checking in with ourselves.
And although sinking into a bubble bath, enjoying your skincare ritual, and eating healthy are all beautiful, effective forms of self-care, we want to highlight one of the most foundational elements of wellness: self-reflection.
Since reflection is usually done in quiet, without distractions, and deeply personal, it makes sense that it isn’t all over social media or a regular part of public conversation.
Today we’ll share how transformative this practice is, and give you some ideas on how you can infuse more self-reflection into your daily life.
Why is self-reflection important?
As individuals, we are the creators of our reality. Whether it is actively or passively, we are always calling in and manifesting things, people, and experiences into our realm. The practice of self-reflection is key to discovering yourself by understanding the “why” and “how” behind your desires, behaviors, and dreams. And once you have a clearer picture of that, you can continue to manifest more of what lights you up.
Curating a beautiful, joy-filled life starts with knowing yourself so you can move throughout life in a way that satisfies your soul’s calling.
What is self-reflection?
Self-reflection is meditation or serious thought about one's character, actions, and motives.
The most effective reflection begins with the goal to learn more about yourself, and involves conscious consideration and analysis of your beliefs and actions.
This practice allows you to untangle experiences, thoughtfully sort through observations, and reflect on possible interpretations to ultimately create meaning. Once you’ve assigned meaning to an experience or feeling, this new information can inform the way you respond to future challenges and experiences.
The outcome? Because of your new insights, you are better equipped to bring more abundance, joy, and beauty into your life - whatever that looks like to you.
"Life is all about evolution. What looks like a mistake to others has been a milestone in my life. Even if people have betrayed me, even if my heart was broken, even if people misunderstood or judged me, I have learned from these incidents. We are human and we make mistakes, but learning from them is what makes the difference."
-Amisha Patel
Tools for self-reflection
The similarities between self-reflection and the actual act of gazing into a mirror isn't lost on us. These tools can be used as your metaphorical mirror to aid in your journey of self discovery.
Although there are limitless methods to practice self reflection, we’ve found that no matter the method you use, it is most effective when you focus in on a friction point, discomfort, topic, or life event that you want to gain insight on when you begin. It is helpful when this takes the form of a question.
As long as you are creating space for your mind to feel quieter, how you practice self-reflection is entirely up to you!
Journaling
Writing down your thoughts in a journal is a very effective way of exploring your feelings and gaining insights about yourself or a particular life event. It’s also enjoyable to have a record of the personal growth you’ve undergone over the years. If journaling is a practice that resonates with you, use this method to untangle specific events or feelings, or use writing prompts like some of these.
Meditation
The nature of meditation invites you to look inward. We can’t think of a better way to self-reflect than by finding that quiet, peaceful place inside your mind. Holding still and focusing on the breath creates a space for your mind to unravel seemingly complicated feelings. The power of meditation allows you to tap into your intuition and inner-wisdom.
Tarot Cards
Adding tarot cards can be a fun, creative addition to any self-reflection practice. Instead of using cards as a predictive tool, it’s helpful to see them as a tool to reflect on current events, feelings, and challenges in your life
Personal Astrology
For thousands of years, humans have looked to the stars for answers we haven’t been able to explain.
These beautiful words by Sarah McCarry, paint a picture of how to use astrology for self-reflection:
“I believe in astrology not so much for its ability to tell fortunes, but for its narrative structure — the way it asks me to look at the events of my life as part of a larger pattern of cycles and deaths and rebirths."
In this way, astrology can be similar to meditation. It’s a way to clarify your thoughts and move forward despite life’s complicated twists and turns.
However you choose to practice self-reflection, it has a magical way of making things a little easier and clearer, allowing us to grow as humans, and get in touch with our intuition.
