Growth didn’t start with a book or a breakthrough for me.
It started in the quiet — when I stopped moving long enough to notice what was going on inside me.
I used to think growth had to be loud. Big moves. Major wins.
But it turns out, some of the biggest shifts happened when I sat still and simply asked myself,
“How did that go? And how did it feel?”
That’s reflection. And it changed everything for me.
I didn’t always reflect — I just reacted
There was a time when I moved from one day to the next without thinking.
If something didn’t work, I’d blame the day. Or the task. Or myself.
Then I’d just try harder the next day — same cycle, same overwhelm.
It wasn’t sustainable.
One night, after a long stretch of burnout, I opened my notebook and wrote:
“What keeps making me feel this way?”
And for the first time, I started looking inward — not to judge, just to understand.
That was the beginning.
How I reflect now (and keep it simple)
Reflection doesn’t need to be a ritual with candles and soft music (though sometimes that helps).
Sometimes I just take 5 minutes at night and ask myself:
- What drained me today?
- What gave me energy?
- What do I want to do more of? Less of?
No long answers. No pressure.
Just honesty.
The surprising gift of reflection
The more I reflected, the more I noticed patterns I had been missing.
I realized…
- I do better work when I take breaks earlier in the day.
- I get anxious when I skip meals and try to “power through.”
- I feel most alive when I’m creating something — even a simple post like this.
Reflection gave me insight.
And insight gave me choices.
Reflection isn’t always easy — but it’s worth it
Sometimes reflection shows me things I don’t want to admit.
Times I didn’t show up well.
Habits I said I’d break but didn’t.
Words I wish I’d said — or hadn’t.
But even then, it helps.
Because it reminds me I’m learning.
It reminds me I can try again — not perfectly, but better.
Tiny prompts that helped me grow
These are a few I return to often:
- “What would I do differently if today repeated?”
- “What did I avoid — and why?”
- “Where did I feel most like myself?”
- “What can I forgive myself for?”
I don’t answer all of them every day.
Just one or two. That’s enough.
Final thought
I used to think growth meant always moving forward.
But sometimes it means pausing… and turning inward.
Not to overthink. Not to overanalyze.
Just to ask:
“What is this moment trying to teach me?”
That’s how I use reflection now.
And I grow a little — every time I listen.
