My last post, I wrote about turning 40 and how that milestone was cause for reflection. I even shared a few initial outcomes of that reflective process. This post, I offer some perspectives on why reflection is important and even instrumental for insight and personal growth.
Why not take some time to go through the exercises. Would love to hear what insights you have after the process!
How often do you do the following:
Think about what you’re currently doing, facing, how you’re living and what it might mean for your life?
Daily Weekly Monthly Sporadically Never
Think about where you are spiritually, mentally, physically and take what you’re thinking to God?
Daily Weekly Monthly Sporadically Never
Journal your thoughts, behaviors and “patterns” to process where you are.
Daily Weekly Monthly Sporadically Never
If you do any of the above, why do you do it?
How do you feel after you do these things?
Does taking these steps lead to any thought or behavior changes?
“Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.”
― Søren Kierkegaard
Without reflection, we go blindly on our way, creating more unintended consequences, and failing to achieve anything useful. Margaret J. Wheatley
We are called to “be ready” in season and out of season. 2 Timothy 4
Reflection & examining self honestly can help you be ready.
The Lord examines us. Psalm 26:2, Proverbs 5:21
Shouldn’t we be asking ourselves what he will find? Lam. 3:40, 1 Cor. 11:28, 2 Cor. 13:5
A reflective exercise:
Write your spiritual resume listing your gifts, miracles you’ve experienced, what God has done in you and through you. What have you lived through that makes you who you are today?
Write your professional resume listing your skills, talents, accomplishments and job history. Then ask yourself, how was God evident in your professional history?
Now, imagine you arrive in heaven before today is over. You are giving your “account” of life and what you did on this earth for Him.
What do you say?
What do you repent for?
Perhaps before today is over, you might consider taking these things to the father in prayer.
Follow effective action with quiet reflection. From the quiet reflection will come even more effective action. Peter Drucker