Self-reflection plays a huge role in a considered life. It's a way of ensuring we don't end up stuck in a rut, spinning around in the groove of the daily grind. Checking in with yourself to consider the state of your relationships, career, and ambitions helps make sure you're maintaining the standards you've set for yourself and are moving towards the goals you want to achieve.
Checking in with myself every couple of weeks helps to refocus my priorities and ensure I'm making time for the things that matter the most to me in my life. I can be terrible at making time for self-care when I'm not close paying attention to my mind and body. I ask myself these questions to reflect on the struggles I'm facing, what I could do to be more mindful, and how I can make changes that will ultimately make me happier.
If you find yourself losing focus of your goals and needing a little guidance to getting back on track, these four questions will help shine some light on what's most important to you and how you can bring those things back into focus.
Am I spending my energy, time, and money on the things that matter the most to me?
If you find yourself unfulfilled or unhappy because you don't have enough time to do the things that matter the most to you, it's important to access your habits and identify the barriers that are preventing you from doing them. Ask yourself how you could make more time for those things. What are the hurdles that stand in the way of you doing them more often?
Often we know exactly what we should be doing and how we could make more time to do them like removing distractions and spending less time procrastinating! There are plenty of excuses to avoid breaking down those barriers and it's so much easier to continue in the groove we've created for ourselves. But if you really want to spend more time doing the things you're most passionate about you're going to have to make some changes.
In what areas of my life am I settling?
As life gets busier with more commitments and seemingly less time to deal with them, we can find ourselves succumbing to the daily grind. A lot of people end up settling for a lifestyle that is far from their ideal situation. Change is daunting and can be overwhelming but it's not an excuse to settle for something you're not happy with.
If you're stuck in a dead-end job, have toxic friends, or are in an unhappy relationship, and have little time for the things you truly love; ask yourself why you're not tackling the issue head on. Sometimes life gets in the way and we're unable to deal with everything all at once.
If you don't ask yourself what you can do to improve the situation it becomes difficult to change it.
It's time to identify the sticking points that are preventing you from enjoying your best life. If you're settling for a lifestyle that's leaving you unfulfilled or even unhappy, consider the changes you can make now to alter the course of your life going into the future. Tackling the issue head-on might seem daunting but it will more than likely revolutionise your life.
Am I being true to my values?
Being true to yourself is about upholding your personal values and beliefs about how you want to live your life. It's important to figure out what your personal core values are so that you can live an authentic life that reflects who you are, what you stand for, and upholds the integrity of your beliefs.
If spending time with friends and family is important to you but you frequently work late, there's a conflict there. If you believe we should all strive to live with compassion yet you purchase items that involve cruelty, you're living out-of-alignment with your values. If you believe self-care is essential to health and wellbeing but you don't make enough time for it, you're not showing yourself the kindness you give to others.
Ask yourself: Am I living with integrity? Do I live with compassion? And: How can I make a difference? These questions will help identify what matters the most to you, what your personal core values are, and how you can bring your actions in alignment with your morals and beliefs.
Am I being my best self?
If you have a picture of your future self or a vision of your success, consider how far along the path you are to achieving them. Are your current actions having an impact? Are you pursuing your dreams and goals or finding excuses to put them off? Are you trying new things, building good habits, and investing in self-care?
If you're not pursuing your ambitions, pushing yourself to learn and experience more, or challenging yourself to become your best self, ask yourself why. Consider whether you're investing enough time in creating the memories you want to remember, whether the work you're doing is having an impact, and if you're investing in the important relationships in your life. Are there barriers in your way? What are they?
Growth, development, and self-discovery are all part of becoming your best-self. Don't let yourself become complacent - you're capable of great things. Asking yourself if you're being proactive with your ambitions helps to focus your mind and set your intentions so that you commit to having positive and productive days that end with you feeling satisfied, fulfilled, and accomplished.
