So you are interested in reflective practice, and want to learn more about how it can improve your life. But just what are the benefits of reflective practice?
There are many benefits to starting a reflective practice. It can help you transform your life in a range of ways – personally, professionally and emotionally. Here are seven ways that it will change your life.
1. Deepens your understanding of yourself
We are all so busy satisfying all of the demands placed upon us at work and at home that we don’t get enough time to work on ourselves. The kids and your partner are always in need of something, of your time. You will often find that the one thing that gets pushed to the back of the queue is your own needs and interests. Reflective practice is one easy way to improve our lives in only a few minutes a day once we get into the habit.
2. Teaches you more about your chosen career
By assessing your performance honestly, you can uncover any gaps that you might not have realized or patterns that might be holding you back. Then you can take action to deal with whatever issues the reflective practice has raised. This might include going on a course, getting a life coach, or working with a mentor or other professional who can teach you the skills you need to succeed.
3. Helps improve your relationships
When we are busy and stressed, we are in “work mode”, not relaxation mode. The busier we are, the harder we are to communicate with. If you haven’t been connecting with your spouse, partner, friends and family for more than a few minutes at a time because you are always so busy, it is time to get started with reflective practice so you can identify trouble spots at work and home. Do this before it becomes too late!
4. Transforming yourself from passive to active
Once you have identified your trouble spots, it will be time to take action to fix them. Instead of blaming others, you will take your share of the responsibility in order to transform these difficult situations. Feeling more in charge of your life will improve your relationships too, because you will be proactive about your goals, not react as if things just “happen to you.”
5. Gaining new skills
As you work through the process of reflective practice, you will become better at problem solving, analytical thinking, goal setting and flexible thinking. Depending on which methods you use for your reflective practice, you might also gain other useful and interesting new skills, such as:
* Meditation
* Stress relief techniques
* Time management
* Anger management
* Journaling
* Blogging
* Better business-related skills, such as improving your PowerPoint presentations
* Better personal skills, such as improving your ability to speak in public
…and more. All of these can help you become your best self.
6. Improved decision-making
Reflective practice puts you in the driver’s seat, deciding what to do or not do. In many cases, you will have a range of options to consider. Regular reflective practice will help you make better decisions. Even if they turn out to be mistakes or “failures,” reflective practice is the ideal tool for learning from your mistakes. In this way you can break free of negative patterns and transform your life from struggle to success.
7. Better organisation
Thinking more about what you are doing means you are less likely to do things on the spur of the moment, some of which you shouldn’t. We often make bad decisions when we are stressed or under pressure, and those bad decisions have consequences.
Thanks to reflective practice, you can be more organized and methodical. You work your plan, and make your plan work. You will be able to not only set goals, but also track them as you achieve them, through step-by-step actions that are all organised and designed to contribute to your success.
Now that we have covered just a few of the many benefits of reflective practice, it’s time to organise your journal or a folder on your computer and start using reflective practice to transform all of the areas of your life you feel are holding you back from being your best self.