POINTS TO PONDER

BENEFITS OF SELF-REFLECTION

Many people find doing self-reflection difficult or troublesome. They don't understand why they need it, and they don't see the benefits of doing self-reflection. Why is self-reflection important for you?

Improve self-awareness: It's essential to understand yourself at a deeper level. Self-awareness and a little soul searching are critical to success in all areas of life. Taking time for self-reflection about life leads to greater self-awareness which in turn leads to self-improvement. In addition, having a strong sense of self improves your confidence and level of self-esteem.

Provide perspective: Self-reflection allows you to understand and see things from a different point of view. When you take a step back from a situation, you gain a new understanding.

Allow you to respond, not react: Ever say or do something in the moment that you wish you could take back? When you react, you're not thinking about the potential ramifications of your actions. However, when you spend time to reflect on a situation, you can respond more thoughtfully and change your behaviour for next time.

Facilitate a deeper level of learning: Many studies share the common conclusion that self-reflection facilitates a deeper level of learning and understanding. It's a critical part of the education process. When you get time reflect, digest and integrate, you are better able to make abstract connections, as well as retain and recall information.

- Andre Luie