Self-reflection
Self-reflection is the conscious analysis of one's own thoughts, emotions and actions in order to better understand oneself.
Definition
Self-reflection is consciously examining one's own thoughts, emotions, decisions and behavior patterns. It helps you learn from experience, notice repetitive reactions and correct actions. It is most useful when it combines curiosity, specificity and kindness towards yourself. When it turns into endless thinking without conclusions, it may turn into rumination.
Key ideas
- Self-awareness
- Learning from experiences
- Reflection without judgment
Practice and life
Introduce a 10-minute evening journal: what happened, what I felt, what I learned and what I will do differently tomorrow.
Common misconceptions
It is a mistake to turn self-reflection into rumination and analyze the same thing repeatedly without a new conclusion. It is also a mistake to analyze without translating into a specific action or experiment.
> Reflection makes sense when it leads to clearer vision, not to endless second-guessing.
> — Guru Element
Questions for self-reflection
- What has today taught me about myself?
- Which reaction pattern do I want to consciously change?
- What one experiment will I implement tomorrow?