The power of self reflection in building stronger relationships
Have you ever considered that your own actions and thoughts can impact your relationships? Oftentimes, we get so caught up in what is going wrong with everyone else, rather looking at ourselves. A simple yet effective exercise that facilitates better understanding of our feelings, actions, our behavior and how we contribute to the connections we have with others is self reflection.
When we take time to reflect on ourselves, we unleash new ways to fix and strengthen your relationship with others. This practice would not solely benefit you but also benefits the people around you.
What is self reflection?
Self reflection is the time taken out on one’s ability to witness and evaluate emotions, actions and patterns. It means asking yourself honest questions, such as-
- How do I act when situations become stressful?
- How can I improve my communication skills?
- Am I a good listener?
Self reflection allows you to understand one’s needs and behavior in a relationship and can also notice how each other are impacting another individual. This can allow you to have more satisfying and healthier relationships.
Why is self reflection important?
It helps you to know yourself more. When you take out time to examine, you get to know yourself more, your feelings as well as responses. When you are well informed, it becomes easier to understand others, communicate and handle stresses associated with relations.
- It enhances communication
Self reflection helps on how you communicate, hence, one can always ask themselves if they clearly states what they want if they listen to others. Being aware of these things makes interactions more positive and effective.
- It builds empathy
The reflection on your own happenings helps you take better perspective of other person. That way, it might become easier to understand their feelings, which will further help avoid conflicts and come closer.
- It encourages growth
Relationships often tells us where we need an improvement, for instance, patience, or understanding or even trusting others. Self reflection can help you realize the areas where you need to work on them, for your own good as well as your relationship.
How to practice self reflection?
- Take out some time for it
Devote few minutes each day or a certain time weekly to better understand your relationship. Ask yourself-
What was the highlight of the day?
How did I handle stressful situation?
What can I do differently next time?
- Write it down
Journaling is an excellent method of taking notes on your own thoughts and evaluating your progress. Writing these thoughts can help you notice and understand better.
- Be honest with yourself
It’s not about self blame rather than it’s an exercise in learning and growth. Be gentle and yet honest with your critique of behaviors and emotions.
- Seeking guidance
To make this process easier, many resources provide numerous exercise and words of wisdom. These can point in the right direction and help personal growth and better relationships.
The benefits of self reflection
When you take out time for yourself, you start becoming more aware of your actions, more empathetic and good at communication. These really make a lot of difference in any relationship with your partner or even friends and family.
It also helps in setting certain standards, creating boundaries and healthier balance in your relationship. This also builds confidence in you to convey your needs while respecting the needs of others.
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