What lead me to this path I am on currently, is our topic today - REFLECTION. Something I do often and I have done a lot lately to remind me why I have chosen the path I am on. My current demands in both my personal and work life can be overwhelming at times and reflecting on my choices, goals, where I've been, where I'm going and so on helps keep me from being dragged down. It helps remind me I can do this and I just need to take a step back for a second to rethink. I feel this is the same when I'm writing an outline or working a story plot. The first step towards any path in a person's life (real or fictional) is to know who we are, how we see ourselves, where we have been, what we think we can do, what we believe is achievable and so on. This is done through reflection. Here is a saying I have written down in one of my journals from college. It's something I wrote to remind myself every day.
"Before we can truly know or understand someone or something we must first be able to understand our own intentions."
This is only done through reflection.
One of the first things I tell people who come to a writing course with me is if you want to be a writer you must first understand who you really are. Go take a really good hard look at yourself in the mirror. Let yourself really see you for the first time. It is something to see when I see say this to a room full of new bright-eyed unpublished writers and/or full-grown adults, mostly older than me. Why? Most people haven't or don't want to be Alice and walk through the looking glass. Who really wants to know what is on the other side; but to be successful, truly happy, grow, understanding, have true empathy, and the desire to improve you must take those hard looks in the mirror at yourself and I'm here to tell you, you won't always like what reflects back at you.
First, you need to know how to look into your mirror. How to do self-reflection? Some may call it meditation. Others, prayer. Whatever works for you. You can use any technique you like. YOu can journal, too. I tend to use meditation and journal. I don't do it daily, but you can. Weekly is good but do it at least monthly to get started. It's just KEY you get started. It is also important you find a good time in the day to self reflect. Mine is in the early mornings or late evenings when no one in my home is awake. This way I know I won't be disturbed. The house is quiet and I can either sit in total silence or play very soft music. Sometimes, I even use candles and I find this gives a nice setting and mood to my personal reflection. You will learn what works for you over time as I have done through the years by trial and error.
The biggest thing I have learned with reflection is putting my ego aside. Letting myself freely think and explore thought. This works in both my personal life and in my writing. I find answers to questions I may be struggling to find. I course correct when I start to wonder. So many things happen when I take the time to just reflect and it reminds me how our impact on the world no matter how great or small still matters to those we touch in our lives with our words and actions.
Watch the YouTube Video on Reflection Here!