![]() ![]() ![]() Although it can be useful to reflect on our faults, it is not helpful to focus on them continuously, as this can have a negative impact on our general self-esteem.īoth rumination, excessive worrying and low self-esteem can lead to depressive and anxious episodes. When self-reflecting with the goal to improve ourselves in some way, it can be easy to slip into evaluating ourselves only in a negative light. Again this is not a helpful process as it is not objective and can make the anxiety worse. Instead, worrying involves dwelling on the future that causes us stress and anxiety. Ruminating is not a healthy form of self-reflecting as it is stuck on the negative, and without engaging in successful problem solving.Ģ) Worrying is another style of overthinking similar to self-reflecting. Rumination is characterised by continuously thinking about the same negative thoughts over and over, struggling to find resolution (see our blog on rumination here). Here are a few examples of how negative self-reflection can impact us:ġ) Many people may confuse healthy self-reflection with rumination. For example, self-reflecting excessively can lead to a decline in mental wellbeing. Researchers have found that to gain the most out of self-reflection, it needs to be done in a balanced way. There is a negative side to self-reflection, which can link to certain mental health issues. (Statue: “Cain” by Henri Vidal, 1896, in the public Tuileries Garden, Paris, France) The negative side of self-reflection can cause stresses of it’s own Self-reflecting provides the opportunity to actively problem-solve. Being more aware as to why we feel or think a certain way may allow us to feel more in control to change. Negative thoughts and feelings can seem even more daunting and more difficult to change if you do not believe you have the ability or know-how to change them. Actively reflecting can be a successful way of keeping track of your progress, be it professional or personal. Helps us establish clear and efficient goal-setting.Being reflective and self-aware means that you can acknowledge both your strengths and weaknesses, naturally leading to a realistic self-view and healthy self-esteem. When done in a healthy, balanced way, self-reflection can have many benefits. How did I feel before, during and after? How much of my feelings can I attribute to the situation?.How did I react to others? How did they react to me?.What did I do well? What would I do differently?.How did I contribute to that situation?.To analyse an experience, you may ask yourself: ![]() What are my values? What is important to me? What is less important?.What do I like? What do I dislike? What to I look for in other people?.What do I think about myself? What are my strengths? What are my weaknesses?.How do I feel? Why do I feel that way? How often do I feel like this?.Some self-reflective questions that you could ask yourself may include: Other times, it is used as a more active, mental exercise in order to investigate who we are, the progress of our personal growth, or used for trickier problem solving. It can be considered an everyday, self-preserving task, which are particularly triggered by salient events. We may briefly consider on a surface level why we feel, think, or behave the way we do. Personal self-reflection can be described as checking in on oneself emotionally, and analysing how we feel in order to make sense of how we are, and why we feel the way we do. But what exactly is involved in ‘self-reflection’? And what is the difference between doing this in a healthy and unhealthy way? What is ‘self-reflection’? It is also something that is encouraged during many mental health interventions in order to make active progress. It is, in many ways, an automatic process we may find ourselves engaging in throughout everyday life, such as following a social encounter, or experiencing a challenge at work. We all find ourselves being self-reflective from time-to time. ![]()
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