What is a self-reflective practice?
If you are exploring self-improvement it’s worthwhile considering implementing a reflective practice. A practice is something that is done consistently over time with the expectations that there will be improvements over time. This process provides you with a way to evaluate important areas of your life in order to help how you improve the way you respond to certain situations.
What Does It Mean To Have A Reflective Practice?
This is a way to study the experiences you have and improve the way you work or function. It is a particularly useful tool when you are committed to your own personal growth and development.
One of the benefits of a reflective practice is that it provides a way for you to learn about you. Diving in deeply to focus on and understand your responses to the world around will fostering your own development and build self-esteem. Incorporating a self-reflective practice into your life helps can assist in making better decisions that increase connection and opportunity, instead of repeating negative behaviour’s that may lead to disappointment or hurt.
Through a self-reflection practice it is possible to see areas in your life that require improvement especially in the domain of interpersonal relationships. For example, if you find yourself becoming defensive in work meetings when someone challenges your ideas, you can reflect on your response, consider your triggers and do some work to resolve this issue. Individuals who regularly complete a reflective practice are more self-aware and build their emotional intelligence. Individuals with a higher emotional IQ are more adept in leadership positions and have healthier and happier relationships.
How To Develop A Reflective Practice?
A Reflective Practice can be developed by looking at and reviewing how you approach daily events from decision-making to collaboration, to your own sense of agency. Learnings that could emerge include,
- Learning how to pay more attention to your needs.
- Recognising the automatic assumptions you may have.
- Understanding your patterns.
- Becoming more aware of how you interpret words and behaviours.
- Noticing and questioning how you see certain situations.
- Observing what you do or don’t do that holds you back.
- Detecting the implicit messages in your words.
- Noting your level of frustration as it arises.
- Becoming attuned to your triggers.
Ultimately, we are constantly learning. Through reflective practice we take our past interactions to learn something new, and then implement the learnings. You could consider this an ongoing upgrade to your own internal software.
The Process
The reflective learning process is beset described as a process whereby you ask yourself questions about a particular situation and how you responded to it. For example, you would need to describe the situation and how it occurred. Then you would consider your response and how it made you feel.
This may also involve exploring how an experience or outcome aligned to your expectations. If it didn’t meet your expectations, how did you respond? Finally, you might consider what behaviours you would explore in the future. You essentially question yourself at each stage of the interaction which enables you to gain insights into your own unconscious behaviours.
The Difference Between Reflection And A Reflective Practice
It is worth understanding the contrast here. The main difference is that a self-reflective practice will be captured or expressed in a type of format. This could be anything from written to spoken and will usually occur on a systematic basis that you become very familiar with over time. Whilst a reflection on an experience might be more fleeting and the insight leaves as quickly as it comes in. A self-reflective practice will help you embed the learnings so you can create more enduring change.
When you include a self-reflective practice in your life you are taking responsibility for your life, your actions, your behaviors and your responses.
Jesse Gristwood2023-05-03Anne was so great. She is extremely comfortable and very knowledgeable. Anne was able to help me overcome some old habits and was able to help me come to terms with my past. I would recommend her to anyone.
Sara Baharlou2022-11-01I went to Anne with multiple Traumas . I was not Hopfull that it can help however my partner booked me in to see Anne .. Anne was very professional and wise. She tried alot to stop me from self sabotaging .. I am still dealing with anxiety day in day out however I feel more aware of my problems and also less aggressive and sensitive to some triggers.. not all my problems are solved as it was just four sessions with Anne! we could just work with couple of the issues... however it did help and I see a change .. I recommend TRTP specially for those battling with PTSD !
Leonardo Montealegre2021-07-21I'm so grateful that Anne assisted me when I need it the most; she has changed my life for good, I still see changes in my daily life. I highly recommended her as she is an excellent professional.
hanna yachou2021-06-24I've been seeing Anne Serrey for anger management and for TRTP as part of my court ordered diversion since April. I can comfortably say that slapping the guy that brought me to these counselling sessions was the best thing I've ever done. Absolutely life changing. I feel much lighter, I feel free, and unstuck for the first time since exiting my mother's uterus thirty odd years ago. Thanks so much Anne for all your help and your continued support. Highly recommend Anne's services.
Troy “MyNickname”2021-01-21Anne has been able to inspire me to make multiple changes in my life that have all been beneficial to both my personal and work life. I would highly recommend Anne from Melbourne Counselling Centre to anyone looking to create a positive change in your life.
A K2020-10-08Anne is amazing, TRTP has changed my entire outlook on life, how I interact with people, and what I’m doing. In the few months since TRTP my life has honestly changed so much for the better, it’s beyond what I could have ever imagined. My friends and family are also noticing it! And amazingly, every day gets better. Thank you so much Anne!
Rick Saunders2020-07-06I would not hesitate to refer anyone seeking an effective solution to an ongoing mental health concern.
Poki Samuels2020-03-31Well all I can say is that Anne has helped me get through some of the anger And trauma Been built up inside of me for years and I have not known how to deal with it. She took me step by step on to see how I could overcome these issues that were holding me back on achieving some of my greatest goals in life. Thank you so much Anne 🙏🏾
Nathan Watson2019-09-18TRTP has completely changed the way I think about myself and the world around me. The changes have been extraordinary in such a short space of time. I suddenly find myself walking forward with a new set of positive core beliefs which others are noticing on a daily basis Anne supported me through the process with expertise, compassion and patience. TRTP really does offer you a new launch pad from which to embark on a new journey. I’m so grateful for having this opportunity to do this work with Anne
Daniela J2019-06-14I had been struggling with life and reliving my trauma for over 20 years, I tried everything and nothing worked. Finally I was referred to Anne, who took me through The Richards Trauma Process (TRTP) as that is the process that helped shift the past and get you to a better place. Words cannot express how she turned my life completely around. For once, I am actually excited about life, I am actually thinking about my future. I feel like my life has been reset, I have a second chance and I am developing my life the way I want it to be, rather than the influences I was brought up with. Anne, I am indebted to you, thank you so much.
