Self-reflection is like looking into a mirror – you do not look at the mirror, or perhaps look into it lovingly (though you certainly can), but to comprehend. For me, this is perhaps the simplest thing I’ve found to me that has brought changes in my life that I never expected to exist.
In general, existence at 18 seems vastly different because so many alterations take place – moving for college, making new pals, and many other things. Once experiencing life’s regular flow, always occupied but never quite certain of why exactly at any given moment.
It was by no means an easy task to stop, slow down, and reflect. Sitting alone with my thoughts felt rather awkward and, in fact, intimidating in the beginning. However, one day, following an overwhelming week, I posed a question to myself: What’s truly happening here? What causes those feelings in myself? That marked the beginning. That’s not about hailing myself for a sinner or bowing myself to guilt; it was about understanding.
I began to inquire within, pondering questions like: What brings me joy? What depletes my energy? I also realized that I had been saying yes to things that I actually did not want to do in order to avoid inconveniencing people. This way, I was able to track down more experienced patterns for myself, like how neglecting failure stopped me or how overthinking became priority instead of trusting myself.
This awareness has gradually turned me into a different person in one way or the other. I have grasped the ways to express myself better, particularly when I am stressed up. I’ve set healthy boundaries, something I once thought was impossible. Still, when I am wrong, which I sometimes am, right? I think of it not as a failure but a lesson learned.
The most marked change has, therefore, been a change in attitude towards self. I have taken time to embrace achievements and recognize my capabilities, rather than concentrating on my weaknesses. However, life can still be chaotic, but self-reflection helps me navigate it.
All I had to do was pause, gaze into the mirror, and realize that I now have the courage to truly face myself. And indeed, it was and still is something I am glad I started.\