Posted by Clarity Psychological Group in Blog

The idea of self-reflection can sound foreign and silly to some people. Many people believe that they have no need or time to self-reflect. Self-reflection can improve many aspects of your life from work to relationships and everywhere in between. Self-reflection is taking time to ask deep questions about who you are as a person and answering them honestly. Self-reflection can be useful for a number of reasons:

• Self-reflection can allow you to reconnect in relationships. Self-reflection allows you to recognize and improve aspects of yourself that may be standing in the way of your relationships with others. Ask yourself, “Am I someone that I’d want to be with?”
• Self-reflection helps you to build your emotional intelligence, including self-awareness and self- This involves the ability to be able to understand and control your emotions.  High  emotional intelligence is associated with a higher rate of success outside and inside the  workplace. Research revealed that those who have a high level of emotional intelligence  perform better and make more money annually than people with low levels of emotional                intelligence (Source: http://www.talentsmart.com/).
• Self-reflection can increase confidence levels. By reflecting on your strengths and weaknesses you will be able to be more confident in your future performance. Improving your confidence level can, as a result improve your overall happiness level as well.

There are many practical ways to begin your journey towards self-reflection. Self-reflection can take as much or as little time as you are comfortable with. Below are some tips for when and how to self-reflect.

• Journaling is a great place to start. With journaling you are not only thinking to yourself but also putting your thoughts out into the world through the use of pen and paper. People typically are able to hold themselves more accountable to a personal plan of action if they’ve actually written it down or said it out loud rather than just in their head.
• Find a quiet space away from home. Perhaps you can get to work early or stay a little late in order to self-reflect. Whether you’re sitting at your desk, in your car or on a bench in the lobby allow yourself to reflect on your life and goals.
• Take a walk. Taking a walk once a day, regardless of the length, can be a great opportunity to reflect on yourself and your emotions.

As our world is becoming increasingly busy through the use of technology, finding time to stop and reflect continues to become even more important.