In this first reflective nudge, it feels appropriate to talk about reflection itself.
I started journaling nearly 25 years ago, during a time of chaos and uncertainty. And that year had unsettled me more than I expected. My university was partially closed following a student movement and we didn’t know when classes would resume. I remember the questions running through my mind: What will happen if I can’t continue my studies? What does this mean for my future? Am I wasting my time?
There were so many unknowns.
I began writing to make sense of what was happening and kind of to calm myself. At the time, I didn’t realize it, but I was learning to step back and think about my experiences.
When classes resumed after a year, I felt that something had changed during that time. Writing helped me to slow down and to be more present in my experiences.
Over time, journaling became part of my habits. It became a way of noticing patterns – frustrations that keep on coming, topics of interest and questions that I return to again and again. It helped me to make choices more intentionally.
Years later, coaching training added another layer. Reflecting with others surfaced blind spots that I couldn’t see alone. It also provided me with a space that helped me to have more self compassion. More recently, experimenting with an AI reflective partner showed me yet another format – different depth and different function.
I’ve come to see that reflective practice isn’t one thing. It can take different forms – journaling, drawing, voice notes, alone or with others. And it doesn’t have to be perfectly consistent to be valuable.
In my case, what helped me sustain the practice was being intentionally inconsistent and writing just when I felt like it.
You may already have your own version of that.
What reflective practice do you turn to, especially when things feel unclear?
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For a practical starting point, see Getting Oriented: A First Step.