Self-reflection is analyzing several phases of life, evaluating the thought patterns, behavioral loops, and sentiments.

Self-reflection is a simple practice that can yield marvelous results. Everyone is not willing to self reflect because facing both the good and bad parts of yourself becomes the resistance.

The journey into self-love and self-acceptance must begin with self-examination. Until you take the journey of self-reflection, it is almost impossible to grow or learn in life. – Iyanla Vanzant

Significance of self-reflection

1. Self-reflection enables you to witness the root cause of all your thoughts and feelings and overall consciousness enhancing your self-awareness.

Taking a few moments to reflect on your karmas and trying to forget it enough to get over it, and remembering enough so you are not trapped into it again, and so the emotions have not clouded your judgment and you have a clear sight of what’s important and what is worth ignorance.

2. Communication within brain cells happens through synaptic transmission and every thought created by the soul is transmitted to the brain cells.

The next brain cells absorb the same chemical released by former cells and the whole process is called neuronal wiring and on frequent communication, the connection between them strengthens in simple words the habits become sanskars( major manifestation of human consciousness – soul) hence it’s of paramount importance to be self-aware and conscious of thoughts we are feeding as they say Neurons that wire together fire together and it could be done through self-reflection only.

In this way, a bright and enlightening future could be created by decluttering the mind through self-reflection.

3. You are paying attention to what needs to be changed when you are examining the situation as a detached observer.

Think what was the wrong step you took last time and visualize how would you respond to a similar situation next time. It will transform the habit of reacting to responding and slowly it would get into your subconscious mind or sanskaras and you will behave accordingly.
It’s significant to take out time for pondering about life recognizing where we are putting our energy and so we are not going blindly throughout life.

With self-reflection, we are moving forward with more awareness and focus cutting down all the negativity and chances of failure.

4. Self-reflection allows you to experience solitude .

You get to hear the inner voice and intuitions when you cut out from the outer noise. It boosts up power, clarity, calmness, and tranquillity.

5. The more you spend time with yourself you are knowing yourself better.

It simplifies and strengthens your decision-making capacity and you can live an integrated life within a group of people or at workplaces effectively.

Methods to practice self-reflection

1. Question yourself regarding the things you want to remain conscious.

• What worries me most about my future?
• What was a new and a better thing that I did today?
• How could I improve and become better?
• How I felt today how was my state of mind emotionally, spiritually, socially?
• What was the one thing that I did to keep the body healthy?
• How was my behavior at work?

2. Sit in Silence and observe the wandering monkey mind.

You may also practice some breathing exercises it may be uncomfortable for some in the beginning but start with baby steps and try to maintain consistency.

3. Take vitamin N (nature)

Expose yourself to some fresh air with green bushy plants all around, it improves the mood, opens the mind, shifts the mindset, and gears you up with serenity and clarity.

4. Write a journal to track the emotions to give a path to your feelings.

Acknowledge why you reacted to that stimulus. It will make you more aware so you don’t fall into the loop again.

You need to remain aware and act consciously to break the neural pathway of negative and traumatic thoughts and to transform them into high vibrational thoughts otherwise they will keep playing themselves and would get more entrenched.

Examples of self-reflection include:

• Waking up early than you usually do sitting down for meditation or with drinkables and reading a book.
• Setting a timer in flex time and writing all the thoughts.
• Taking out time to assess a situation.
• Thinking about a habit.
• Sitting in a dark room and observing the whole thinking pattern.
• Accepting yourself and not refusing to the Imperfection as no one is flawless, (makes you get rid of a lot of your fears and insecurities).

When you should reflect

• On new year or at the end of month week or day. Sit back and pick your actions as good and bad and identify ways to do them better next time.
• On a special occasion. Express all the feelings you have been carrying inside on any significant day.
• Events that don’t go the way you wanted, like misunderstandings in relationships, a bad interaction, and a terrible presentation.
• When your frequency is low or you are feeling out of the way.

If you are feeling stressed, demotivated, unhappy it means you are vibrating on a lower frequency. Take a pause, reflect and start with fresh thoughts of zeal and enthusiasm.