Finding the time
Life can be incredibly busy with constant multi-tasking in order to stay on top of everything. Sometimes, finding the time to do anything but work, eat and sleep can be a challenge. But how often in a day do we scroll through Facebook or Instagram? How often do we find ourselves zoning out in front of the TV? (I’m as guilty as the next person). These are the moments where, with enough motivation, we could choose to look back at our day and our reaction or response to the events that happened.
Good or bad, it doesn’t matter
Whether you’ve had the best or the worst day, it really doesn’t matter. In fact, self-reflection can be easier when we’ve had a rough time. If you’ve lost your temper in a confrontation or felt constantly low, self-reflection can help us to learn what happened. It can help us to figure out what made us react that way and teach us where to go from there.
The thing with self-reflection is that it doesn’t have to take a long time. It isn’t meant to be about over-thinking and judging ourselves for not being ‘perfect’. It’s supposed to be a short practice where we notice how we feel now and look back at what’s happened throughout the day that may have influenced this. If we feel bad about something, we can show ourselves compassion and vow to do better next time. In this way, we can leave behind the negative and focus on the positive.
Self-awareness is a great tool to have in life. It helps us to note what makes us feel good and what leaves us feeling deflated. It can teach us what situations can be fixed and those we perhaps have to walk away from. If we went through life without reflection, we would never blossom.
Taking a step back
Giving ourselves five minutes a day can help us to re-evaluate where we are right now. For example, if we are in a job that doesn’t suit us and ultimately makes us feel unmotivated, we may react badly towards our colleagues or bring that low mood home, interrupting precious family time. We can all aspire to be calm and collected through whatever life throws at us but that’s not always possible. In the moment, we get caught up in our emotions and can turn into someone we don’t like. This is okay. This is life. But there is absolutely no harm in addressing your reactions later in the day, without being hard on yourself, and making a mental note to catch yourself next time.
Practise in class
Change the Game with Anat Geiger – an All Level, Vinyasa Flow for those days when we find ourselves stuck in old patterns of thought and behaviour that have repeatedly let us down before. We move in a dynamic but not speedy tempo and look for windows where we can find a different approach to those old problems.
Related reads:
