|
Ready - Set - Reflect
Lynn Schaber, Potential Within
September is back-to-school time and the winding down of going to the shore. There is a rhythm to certain times of the year and I think the beginning of fall is one of them. Families are regrouping to get in the back-to-school routine, kids are off to college, and even businesses ramp up as vacations slow down. It seems like a good time to step back and reflect on your life so far this year. It may take a little time, but scheduling time to reflect doesn't have to be daunting. The rewards will make it well worth the effort.
I have a couple of suggestions for how to go about this process and then some questions to prompt some deeper thinking.
First of all, make this process your own. There are no rules for how to assess where you are and where you want to go. The biggest problem for most people is that we don't take the time to think and reflect. We do our best thinking while in the shower, driving the car, or lying in bed trying to get to sleep. Rather than letting inspiration surprise you, plan for it.
Make a date with yourself. It is much more likely to happen if you put the date on your calendar and keep the commitment. You can plan one time slot of a couple of hours or 20 minutes for a couple of days in a row.
Find a place. Go somewhere that allows your thoughts to flow. Maybe you like the beach, the woods, the mountains, a park, your backyard, or Starbucks. Or maybe you are sitting in an overstuffed chair in a quiet corner of your house with a view out a window.
Record your thoughts. Bring a pad and pen. Or use your laptop or electronic tablet. Find what works best for you to record your thoughts. And don't worry about spelling, grammar, or sentence construction. Just let your thoughts flow.
Answer some questions. Many of my clients really like the idea of this process but struggle with what to write or how to get started. With the theme of reflecting on the year so far, here are some ideas of questions to write about.
- What have I done that I am really proud of this year?
- Who are the people in my life that are important to me and why?
- How often am I in touch with the people in my network?
- What have I done to nurture myself lately?
- What has changed in my life recently?
- What are my greatest strengths and am I utilizing them?
- What do I want to accomplish by the end of the year?
- What are one or two small changes that I can make that would affect the quality of my life right now? What is stopping me from making those changes?
- Who can I ask for support to help me achieve my goals?
- What is the question I am not asking myself?
Read what you wrote. What is powerful about written reflection is the ability to step back and absorb what just poured out of you. Look for patterns, themes and possible actions. Imagine yourself as a painter stepping back to look at your self-portrait and deciding how you want that image to reflect what is inside you.
I hope you will share with me your experience of taking time to reflect. Send me an email at lynn@potentialwithin.net and let me know what you discovered.
Back to top
| 
