Written by: Gayle Terzis, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
There still are a few days of summer left. Now is the perfect time for self-reflection and for asking ourselves questions that need a lot of time, consideration, and evaluation to answer properly. Why? Because after months of running around to finish everything and attend to the multitude of responsibilities that we have, we finally have some time to unwind, away from our daily routines.
Therefore, we might find ourselves with plenty of time on our hands to relax but also to start finding solutions to problems that might have been bothering us all year.
So, while soaking up the sun away from our worries, our minds will be relaxed enough to tackle our life’s biggest issues without bouts of anxiety.
But first, what is Self-Reflection?
Self-reflection is the intentional process that allows you to allocate some alone time to freely and purposely think about your life choices. This will help you understand yourself better. It helps you to improve who you are as a person and learn what you stand for. It also allows you to discover aspects of yourself you did not know about and understand the reasons behind some of your behaviors.
When you learn what drives you and why you slowly start teaching yourself how to navigate life in a way that truly aligns with your values. It gives you tools and shows you ways to improve your life and develop yourself.
What are the benefits of self-reflection?
Self-reflection is the first step in the self-awareness journey. It allows us to better understand ourselves and take the choices that are truly for our benefit. It helps us understand our emotions and our actions without judgement, as if we are looking at ourselves and our lives from a neutral standpoint.
This will, in turn, create a positive effect that will eventually help us lead a better life because it automatically leads to growth, and growth eventually leads to happiness.
The goal of self-reflection is to become our own best friends.
How to self-reflect effectively?
So, what are the questions you can ask yourself to make the most out of your summer free time and how can you self-reflect effectively?
Below, I am sharing with you the questions that you need to ask yourself and the strategies you need to follow to self-reflect and find your purpose this summer:
1. Allocate specific amounts of time for self-reflection each week:
To reap the benefits, self-reflection should become a constant practice for which you allocate specific amounts of time in your weekly routine. You can start slowly and allocate at first, a few moments where you can learn to sit in silence with yourself. Once you are comfortable doing so, it is time to allow your mind to flow freely without judgment. Our minds tend to flow to the problems that are bothering us. Let your mind do so without trying to interrupt. This may take time and practice, and I have found that meditation can be helpful. You can slowly start increasing your allocated time for self-reflection as you start feeling more and more comfortable. With time, you will find that the process becomes automatic.
2. Write down your thoughts and your questions:
If you are facing a lot of problems or trying to find your life’s purpose, self-reflection is a great tool that will help you listen to your inner self. Once you create a safe space inside your head where you allow yourself to explore life’s biggest questions, you will start hearing your true voice. It takes courage to do that and act upon it, but with time, and practice, you will be able to achieve the results you have set your mind to.
3. Don’t be afraid to ask yourself the big questions:
Once you become more comfortable with self-reflection, you can start asking yourself life’s biggest questions. Ask yourself:
Am I happy? If not, what are the steps that I can take to remedy that?
What is bothering me? And how can I overcome my problems?
Write down your life goals and plans. Then, take a long and hard look at them to determine in which areas you are aligning with them and in which areas you aren’t. Then use your self-reflection time to determine the next best course of action.
4. Seek help:
Whenever you are able to solve your problems on your own or you feel stuck. Self-reflection is a great way to start talking to yourself in positive and constructive ways. But even with the best of intentions, we might sometimes get stuck in situations where we simply do not know the solution. That is why it is important to ask for appropriate help from professionals such as coaches or psychologists, depending on your problems. Self-reflection does not mean we will not be needing outside help, but it rather means identifying the instances in which we do need help.
5. Practice self-care:
When you are in the process of self-reflection, especially if you are asking yourself some big and difficult questions, you might be passing through some hard times as you start making difficult realizations. Therefore, it is important in times like these, to practice self-care by going to the beach, going for a walk in the park, etc.
Conclusion:
Self-reflection can seem like a hard practice. So, what better way to incorporate something difficult than when we have time and are enjoying ourselves?
Enjoying the outdoors is a great activity in summer and is a sure way to boost your mood, so making the most out of it while incorporating the new practice of self-reflection into your daily routine will assure you a successful return to your life, once the summer buzz is over.
Gayle Terzis, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Gayle Terzis is an Executive & Career Coach and the Founder of Boost Up.
With a background in banking, Gayle spent over ten years in the corporate world working on diverse missions, including the development of the first program dedicated to the financial empowerment of women in the Middle East. However, she started feeling that her job was lacking meaning and purpose, and she was automatically less happy at work. She found coaching to be her calling. She quit her job and got certified by the ICF Executive & Leadership Coaching program.
Today, Gayle helps ambitious career-focused people connect with their better selves in order to reach their full potential and achieve meaningful goals faster; while having a balanced, healthy, happy, and productive life.
