Make Reflection a Habit

Regular reflection helps you refine knowledge and understanding of your passion, why, goal.  It helps you consider how well you are adhering to the path toward your goal.  If you err or go astray,  you will be less satisfied or fulfilled with your day, this reflection will help you get back to center.  While a daily reflection is great, it is the regularity that is important.  Just like anything, you must practice reflection for it to become a habit.

As you reflect, consider the points listed above.  Question how your day went; were you in the “flow”. The concept of flow is covered in an earlier blog as a sense that you are working in a way that suits you and moves toward your goal. Did you feel as if you could have just gone on forever with your enjoyable task OR find yourself bogged down, mired in unsatisfying tasks?  A few years ago I wrote a blog entitled How Was Your Day.  It was inspired by Seth Godin stressing importance of our answer to this question and my recognition that my response was just “okay”.  I was no longer enthusiastic about my journey; I lacked excitement for the tasks at hand.   My point then, as now, is that taking the time to reflect helps you identify issues, goals, needs, etc that can help you transform your future.

There is a Japanese concept called Ikigai, which refers to what brings us a sense of value or meaning to life.  I first heard this term while watching a documentary about centenarians/Blue Zones by Dan Buettner. He described Ikigai as "a reason for living" that he recognized among older adults. More recently, some leadership writers have added aspects beyond what I think was meant by the Japanese.  But it does give an added consideration in our reflection--whether we find our days motivating and providing a reason for (at least) our occupational living.