Asking why – the key to healthy self- reflection

By Shannon Swenson

Self-reflection is the key to better understanding how your mind works and what drives you to think and behave the way you do. It also makes it easier to change beliefs and habits you have when they aren’t working. Knowing that self-reflection is a good idea is the first step. The second is discovering how to self-reflect.

SELF-REFLECTION

REQUIRES YOU TO PAUSE

In order to self-reflect, you’ve got to get quiet. Healthy and effective introspection requires hitting the pause button and stopping the chaos long enough to get a clear head that can process important information.

Getting quiet and concentrating on yourself is important so you can uncover the ways you may be getting in your own way and falling short of your goals, hopes, and dreams. One of the best ways to self-reflect is asking yourself a series of why questions.

Asking yourself why in the form of an open-ended question can help you fill in the blanks or explore things in a deeper way. Here are some examples of why-type questions that are great for introspection. Why did I do that? Why does this keep happening? Why did they react to me that way? Why am I thinking this way? Asking yourself why you do the things you do can help you stop and think about the things that trigger you into poor behaviors or wonder why certain things keep happening. It’s important to look for clues that alert you to what’s going on deep down.

KEEP A JOURNAL TO HELP WITH THE PROCESS

Journaling is a great way to keep track of your self-reflection and process why you have the situations and outcomes you do. You can easily ask yourself a why-type question and journal whatever comes to mind. Over time you can see patterns develop and use them to make changes.

MEDITATE ON WHY

Meditation is a great way to focus on why-type questions. You can use meditation time to clear your head and set an intention to focus on a why-type question. Removing other thoughts from your mind and exclusively paying attention to your why-type question can free your mind to focus and reveal underlying thoughts and beliefs tied to your question.

If you’re ready to do some healthy self-reflection, start by asking yourself why? That simple question has the power to unlock a world of information that can help you change the way you think and act, making it easier to achieve your goals.

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Celeste Edenloff

Lori Mork

contributing writers

Celeste is a reporter for the Echo Press. She enjoys perusing her social media accounts, running and participating in races with her husband, Al.

Lori Mork of Lowry is a mother, grandmother and dabbler in all things food, photography and decor related.

Lowell Anderson Lowell Anderson is a photographer at the Echo Press newspaper.

Melanie Danner Melanie Danner of Alexandria is an at-home mother and craft lover.

Shannon Swenson Shannon Swenson is a Life Coach at Encompass Coaching in Alexandria. She enjoys cooking and reading and is a nature, animal and classic car lover.

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