It’s probably my Quaker educational background, but reflection has been one of the best tools in my learning utility-belt. Back when I thought I wanted to teach high school social studies, my college’s rather progressive education department put us raw teacher candidates through a series of intensive learning exercises. One of the very first lessons was on building our skill in reflection. “Big deal,” I thought. “Reflecting is sort of like thinking and I’m pretty good at that.” Yeah, and the Cubs may actually win another World Series one day. As I realized quickly after the hubris wore off, reflecting is a whole different skill and it takes dedication to honing and mastering it.

You may have been conditioned to think of reflection as some huggy-feely, woo-woo exercise. I hope not. But, if the very thought of reflecting starts to give you the shakes or conjures up sounds of kumbaya, perhaps it’s time to reconsider. Here are some foundational ideas to help you start (or respark) your reflecting process.

Slow down and seek quiet.
Slowing down and being still aren’t exactly up there in our daily priority lists. I mean…who has the time? Exactly. Running along at a 1000 miles a minute isn’t conducive to learning and – let’s be honest – it’s not exactly good for our health. Find a spot that’s quieting and where you can just let go for a little while. Or if being in one spot isn’t your cup of tea, go for a walk. Whatever you choose, try to limit the external distractions so you can focus on your internal voice.

Ask lots of questions…and then ask some more.
So much happens to us in the course of our day and at such a fast pace, we don’t have time to understand it all. Reflection is a form of inquiry, a way to pull ourselves out of the weeds and see a bigger picture. There are no right questions and certainly no right answers. If you need some help getting started, begin by saying, “I wonder…”

Accept strangeness.
If reflection feels new and strange, that’s okay. It’s an activity that’s easier for some folks than it is for others. Introverts tend to find reflection a more natural process because they internalize their thoughts. Extroverts may find the process uncomfortable. The important thing is to make a commitment to stick with it and find a way that works for you. Journaling is a traditional way of reflecting, but you don’t have to write. If you do better when you talk aloud, consider using a voice recorder.

This is our series springboard. Through the next few weeks, we’ll look at these related topics:

• On Reflection and Retreat
• On Reflection and Intention
• On Reflection and Leadership

“Follow effective action with quiet reflection. From the quiet reflection will come even more effective action.”
-Peter Drucker