“We do not learn from experience… we learn from reflecting on experience.”
John Dewey
In a reflective client meeting two weeks ago, a Banking CEO said, “We broke so much ground during COVID, and the results are showing today. I wish I could have a semblance of that uninterrupted time to think and design again.” I knew exactly what he meant. Around this time five years ago, the world was in lockdown, no thanks to COVID-19. Life slowed down, routines paused, and for many of us, it was an extremely challenging season. But it also provided a subtle gift – a gift of pause. The forced slowdown interrupted our norms and made space for reflection, even if we didn’t fully appreciate it at the time.
This Easter weekend, I found myself flipping through my 2020 journals. Journaling has always been a powerful way for me to reflect, and as an introvert, it’s how I ‘catch up’ with myself. Over time, I’ve come to deeply value reflection not as a luxury, but as a necessity. In a world of constant input and noise, reflection is how we extract insight from information and make sense of where we are – and where we need to go. For me, reflection does three things:
- It deepens self-awareness. I notice patterns in my life, the things that have changed, and the things that haven’t, even if expressed in new ways. It reminds me of who I am at my core, and the progress I’m making in becoming.
- It brings clarity. Helps me better see what I’m truly wrestling with, what I value, and the paths I might take.
- It builds conviction. The more I reflect, the more confident I feel about what I must do next—and why.
Many significant decisions in my life have stemmed directly from moments of reflection, including recognizing key relationships (including my spouse), making multiple relocation decisions, job changes, identifying new opportunities, and gaining the conviction to make ‘exit’ decisions, to name a few.
I mostly reflect through journaling, but I’ve found that conversations with a trusted friend can help prompt things. Some of my biggest ‘aha’ moments have come from a simple question asked by someone who was really listening. It’s also why I believe the greatest advice you can give others is thoughtful questions that prompt them to reflect. Others reflect through walks, meditation, or even speaking to themselves (I do this too). The method doesn’t matter—what matters is that you make time for it. And whatever your method, try to record your insights. You’ll be surprised how often you’ll return to them.
How do you reflect? How has it helped you? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Yours in possibilities,
TKO
P.S. If you have a lockdown journal tucked away somewhere, now might be a good time to revisit it. What were you learning then? What were you hoping for? Maybe there’s something in those pages that’s still true—and still calling you forward.