Three Benefits of Self-Reflection

My husband and I recently celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary and we took some time over a dinner to reflect on our relationship. We discussed that as a blended family, we had some pretty bumpy times that nearly bumped us off track all together! However we noticed that we have constantly reflected on what was working and what wasn’t, what underlying thoughts or beliefs were keeping us stuck and what changes could be made to support our children and relationship. Being reflective helped take the heat out of challenges by being responsible for our own ‘stuff’ and be open minded to hear the others perspective, creating space for us to be a team. As challenging as this was at times, it was what got us through to feel stronger and more loving in our relationship. This got me thinking about the benefits of being self-reflective and how helpful it is to our relationships.

10 years ago! A lot can change in that time!!

As human beings, we are constantly facing challenges, growing and changing. Whether we are navigating personal relationships or pursuing professional development, self-reflection is an important part of the process. When we take the time to look back on our experiences and examine our emotions and thought patterns, we can gain valuable insight into ourselves and our behaviour. An article in Harvard Business Review (2016) writes that self-reflective supports overall wellbeing and improved leadership skills and recommends using a journal. The insights gained from a regular journalling practice can then be used to make positive changes in our lives and relationships. Let’s have a look at the top three benefits:

1. Identify Patterns in Behaviour

One of the key benefits of reflection is that it helps us identify patterns in our behaviour. By examining our past experiences, we can start to recognize the situations and triggers that lead to certain emotions and behaviours. This awareness can then help us make conscious choices to respond differently in the future. For example, if we notice that we tend to get defensive in certain situations, we can start to develop strategies for staying calm and open-minded instead.

2. Greater Self-awareness

Reflection can also help us develop a greater sense of self-awareness. When we take the time to explore our thoughts and feelings, we can start to identify our core values and beliefs. This knowledge can help us make decisions that align with our personal goals and aspirations. It can also help us build stronger relationships with others, as we become more aware of our own emotions and how they impact our interactions with others.

3. Manage Stress & Anxiety

Finally, reflection can be a powerful tool for managing stress and anxiety. When we take the time to process our emotions and experiences through writing, we can often gain a sense of perspective that helps us feel more grounded and in control. This can be especially helpful during challenging times, such as when we are going through a difficult period in our relationships or career-related stress.

With these amazing benefits in mind, I’m excited to introduce my therapy journal for relationship counselling Building Connections: Relationship Therapy. It has been designed to enhance your experience of counselling, take notes in and between sessions, reflect on homework practices, prompt self-discovery and identify positive changes and progress. And because it is brand new, I wanted you to be the first to know about it and get it at the super cheap price of $7. With an instant download, you can keep it as a safe and private pdf document on your device or print it and handwrite, the choice is yours!

Make it stand out

Here it is!! Click here to get your copy!

References

Adler, N. (2016). Want to be an outstanding leader? Keep a journal. Harvard Business Review, 13.