Reflection serves as a grounding part of my life. If you asked my parents to describe how I was growing up, they would definitely tell you I was the kid who always questioned everything. “I don’t get it, why?” “How come?” Around my junior year of high school, I began to realize this did not always have to carry a negative connotation. I started to become very curious about the world and why things came to be how they are. Furthermore, I began to challenge my own understandings and beliefs because of this process of becoming more aware. This not only inspired me to do something; it sparked intellectual and creative thinking from within, which was a place I’d never looked or nurtured before. It was not until college when I began to think and act intentionally about reflection, individually and collectively, as a means for growth, wellbeing and social change. As I continue to write and share on this blog, I will unpack what this actually means and what it looks like in my life. For now, I’d like to share personal statements from people of all walks of life on: why reflection is important to them and what role reflection has in their life, including how much reflection/what it looks like for them. I’d like to give a quick shout out to each person who contributed with direct personal statements and also those who have continued to support and encourage me through the journey of processing all this information, formulating thoughts and writing/sharing/expressing.
Love + light,
Nicole
My life would be dull, pointless, and careless without reflection. Reflection enables critical thinking, which enables understanding, growth, love, and empathy. Most of my reflection occurs while I write because writing forces me to deeply and creatively think, reflect, and understand.” –Courtney Train
“When things go by so fast and the journey is so windy, you have to take time to listen to what is true to your head and heart. If I’m honest, I’m not awesome at it but when I am truly practicing, my quality of life is improved. I believe it (reflection) makes me more alive and open to experiences outside the confines my own mind can create. It centers and places perspective on my life and those around me. I don’t do anything new. I think we can learn a lot from the ancient practices around the world that have been practiced for several hundred years. I try to truly hold a Sabbath, fast 1 day a month and fixed silence or prayer daily.” –Evan Davies, Youth Volunteer Engagement Specialist,VIE, Habitat for Humanity International
“One of my favorite (and most used) quotes is “We don’t learn by doing, we learn by thinking about what we do.” Reflection is the place where I begin to understand myself and the world around me. It is critical to me as it aids my learning about the world and the way I interact with it. Without reflection, I would float through life without questioning and examining what’s around me and inside of me, and that, to me, seems like an empty way to be. Reflection keeps me from existing in scripted responses and old patterns, and allows me the opportunity to see the world (and myself) in new ways and to explore new paths. Reflection is a daily and critical practice for me. I have no longer set aside time to “reflect” as it has simply become how I operate on a daily basis. My first response to most experiences and situations I face are questions – what can I learn from this? What is the best way for me to move forward? How can I best be of service to the people in the room? Albert Einstein was once asked what he would do if he was only given an hour to solve the world’s toughest problem. He responded by saying that he would spend the first 55 minutes coming up with the right question, because with the right question, the answer would come quickly. I believe this to be true. Reflection can be a simple practice of just asking yourself questions, and it is also important to think about what the questions need to be to unlock your own learning and potential. Reflection, in this way, has become a practice of identifying the questions I need to explore to shape my future thinking and ways of being.” –Dave Newell, Assistant Director for Community-Based Service and Learning in Center for Servant-Leadership at Gustavus Adolphus College
“Reflection to me is evaluating.When I reflect upon something, I try to learn from the negative and turn it into the positive. I think reflection is a key element in the way humans process thinking differently. If you reflect on something positively, you’ll be a happier being. I am constantly reflecting. I try to be a happy reflector. Reflecting upon things takes a lot of energy, but in doing so you develop your self identity. You learn how you process events and countless other things thrown at you every day. You learn things about yourself and you teach yourself.” –Clara Wicklund
“I reflect in order to learn and begin to take action. Many times, we receive wonderful information and motivation from classes we attend or speakers we may see. We feel great after these enlivening classes/sessions, however, 30 minutes later, we forget all about them. It is important to take even just 30 seconds to reflect on the information you have had the opportunity to take in, and then decide what you can take away from the experience and how you can put some things into action in your own life or in the world.” –Kelli Remboldt
“If I am not aware of “what is”, there is no way I can change. It has more of a mindfulness role, rather than a “set time to reflect” role. I try to be aware, as much as possible, what I am doing and why I am doing it, and am always checking to see if I am doing it truthfully, then readjusting if I am not.” –Neal Hagberg, Musician and Director of the Tennis and Life Camps at Gustavus Adolphus College
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Shine On + Be Well 