Of all the skills that I have learned over the years, there is one that I feel is the single most important in my repertoire. Not only does it allow me the opportunity to solidify my experiences into something actionable, but it gives me the chance to plan out my next steps in the future.
This skill is reflection.
Reflection
Reflection takes on many different forms for many different people. For some, reflection is as easy as working out or reading a book. For others, it is writing. It might be a little more time intensive too, like needing to go on a retreat to a cabin once a month. In all these cases though, it is therapeutic in nature.
Google gives us a pretty cohesive definition of reflection:
- contemplation: a calm lengthy intent consideration
One I like a little better is found on infed.org, though.
- reflection: turning experience into learning
The reason reflection is so powerful is because it affords you the opportunity to evaluate all that you have done, and how it will apply to things you will do. For instance, one of my favorite times to reflect is at the end of a work week.
Take reflection day by day
Every day, I write down what I did and didn’t do. I also write the people I came in contact with and what for. In fact, it is the last task I finish before I leave the office. I go through what I accomplished, how I did it, and what was the outcome. If there are any notes, I add those in as well.
Then on Friday when I get home, I take about an hour to go through my week’s worth of scribblings and I reflect on the tasks that comprised my work week. I usually like to do this in my home office, or sitting in by favorite chair (without the TV on). I think about how I could have done each of the tasks better. Or where I could have gone for more information. Or if I want to attempt that task again. Or if I want to bill more the next time a similar project comes up.
Similarly, I go through all the people I had the pleasure of dealing with during the week. I make sure I have their contact details. I write down things that were pertinent to our conversation, or things I could remember them wanting. I try to get a little mental image of them so that I know who they are an what they are about.
Now, this might sound a little dumb, but I assure you it is one of the most powerful things you could ever do.
Developing your information hub
In time, these weekly reflection sessions turn into a string of notes and information and thoughts that help you build your information hub. As you can see, we are not only performing tasks and making people connections, we are allowing ourselves to interpret each unique situation.
In time, you will start to see new ideas and thought patterns emerge from these reflection sessions that might open up a new interest in you. They will start to shape your goals and your education.
The empowered individual
The bottom line is this: you will start to feel more empowered as an individual. You will feel as though no matter what happens, you have the skill set to overcome it. You will have the ability to turn the situation into something positive. Why? Because you have done it before! You have achieved a similar task, you know how you did it, and you learned all you could from it. You solidified your experiences into something that makes up who you are through reflection. Why would you be afraid? There isn’t any reason to be.