REFLECTION

Understanding that life shapes itself using patterns is the key to change. Being aware of how life is created using patterns helps us connect better with the usefulness of taking time to reflect, getting a clear picture of the vision we have for our lives, and setting intentions. 

I remember some years back I found a box full of all of my journals I'd been working on for the previous 10 years or so. Going through the journals I discovered something that still astonishes me to this day. There was a theme or better yet a pattern. Going through the journals, I saw that from year to year almost to the day my journal entries were the same. It seems I was encountering the same scenarios and based on the journal entry I was responding to the scenarios the same way each year. 

So why do you think I was responding to the scenarios the same each year? I'd love to hear your feedback and insight on this. While I wait - I'll share with you what I know. While I was journaling each year - looking at my journal entries there was little empowerment in the entries. I was approaching life like it was just happening to me and I had no say in how the scenarios I encountered could go. I had not tapped into my RESPONSE - ability. 

Since then I've discovered a profound awareness that has been instrumental in my ability to change my patterns and as a result help me to create a new reality for myself. Every new day when we wake up we enter into a sacred space of newness. The day has yet to be touched by our choices. One of the best ways to start a new day is to begin with wisdom from the day before. Immediately applying our insight catching the wave of new possibilities and change.

For this we must take time to reflect usually best done the night before. We can do this through journaling or just through using our mind to revisit the moments we experienced throughout the day. My reflection has shown me that each day has many new lessons - but some times there is a specific lesson that is showing up in many different scenarios - presenting us with ample opportunity to practice new responses. 

I've had this happen on a day when it seemed like everyone I encountered I had to set a boundary with. As exhausting as boundary setting lesson days are - they eventually were quite rewarding and I got good at setting boundaries. 

So, journaling can be helpful with our reflection process but just writing down all the ways big emotions showed up throughout the day is not quite enough. We can't just say Jennifer pissed me off - that would keep us stuck in victimization. What did we learn - what did we notice we can improve - where were we challenged and why?

I like to ask these type of questions. Sometimes the answers don't come right away - they might present themselves later on in the day. Just asking the questions is how we take ourselves from victims to being with the ability to respond, choose, and decide on a different outcome in the future. 

Making the choice to highlight a lesson using the questioning method and giving these lessons our full attention is a powerful practice. We reflect to build, to listen, to learn. Not to condemn or berate ourselves. We reflect for growth.

One lesson I reflected on recently was the importance of getting up with enough time to process my thoughts for the day, engage in a meditation session to center my mind, to take a morning walk and have a cup of tea.

I realized when I skip this step and choose to roll over and hit the snooze button too many times my day just doesn’t feel centered - I find myself always chasing those missed moments of stillness through out the day.

While the goal is to wake up and get my day started - I will also give myself grace when the contrast of sleeping in a little later meets me instead.

Because contrast helps with growth.

REFLECTION:

Do you notice a pattern repeating in your life? Where - what area of your life is this pattern repeating? Is the pattern in multiple areas? Why - is this pattern creating an area of opportunity for you to do something different? How - what are the feelings that show up for you regarding this pattern - do you experience big emotions connected to this pattern?