"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
Self-reflection is conscious introspection, assessing who you are, what values you hold and why you respond to situations the way you do. Reflection means to think about something. Having the ability to self-reflect means – reflecting on how you behave and what thoughts enter your mind in different situations - you can build self-awareness. And from there you can monitor your thoughts and emotions as they arise then respond appropriately.
According to Daniel Goleman, becoming self-aware is central to developing emotional intelligence. Being able to monitor and reflect on our emotions and thoughts is key to understanding ourselves better and enables us to manage our thoughts, feelings and behaviours proactively. This will not only lead to a more honest view of yourself but also help you build a more open relationship with other people.
Having self-awareness allows you to see where your thoughts and emotions are taking you. Consider the following:
Being aware of your thoughts allows you to take control of your emotions and behaviours so you can make changes you want in your life. Until you have a moment to moment awareness of your thoughts, emotions, words and behaviour, you will have difficulty making changes to the direction of your life. As you develop self-awareness, you are better able to make changes to your thoughts and emotions then your interpretations of events. For example, noticing that negative self-talk and becoming aware of it allows you to change it – in whatever way works for you – reciting a personal mantra, listening to music or going for a walk.
You know the saying - ‘Stay true to yourself’? While this is important advice, it is not easy to stay true to yourself if you do not know who you are. By practising self-reflection and developing your self-awareness, you will better understand your strengths and limitations, build self-confidence, and potentially open up opportunities that may not have been available before.