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‘Tis the Season to Reflect…
Recently during coffee with a friend, we got to reflecting about past happenings, as is typical for friends. She struck a chord when she mentioned it was her plan to work abroad upon university graduation years ago; however it was not to be, when instead she opted to stay put. It was a life-altering decision, for who knows how her life would have been different, she added.
We’ve all been there, and particularly at this time of year, with Christmas rapidly approaching and another year about to close, ’tis the season when our minds wonder what might have been, what could have been – ‘tis the season to reflect.
To reflect is not necessarily to regret, but it is an action in which we take stock, in which we review our past and the sum of our experiences. It is that sum of experiences that has brought us to where we are today. For better or worse, it has made us the people we are, and tomorrow’s experiences, will make us the people we will become.
“Follow effective action with quiet reflection. From the quiet reflection will come even more effective action,” said Austrian-born American management consultant, educator, and author Peter F. Drucker (1909-2005).
Reflection is instrumental to living an effective life. Without reflection, we saunter from experience to experience without meaning and without learning. Life becomes a string of random events akin to a rudderless boat stranded at sea vulnerable to the whim of every wave. Although we can never take advantage of the myriad of opportunities that may come our way, reflection at least gives us the forethought to think through and act upon those opportunities that may work for us. It gives us some control, where absolutely none existed before.
Admittedly, a large part of life is random; as many circumstances of any particular given situation are beyond our control. We have no choice to accept those things beyond our control (see Acceptance, Self-Belief and a Rising Phoenix…), but at the same time, it’s critical we recognize those within it, and reflection is the deed that will help us achieve that.
Although contemporary life is full of distraction, we must make it a habit to reflect. We must silence the gizmos and turn up the brains. Whether it’s in the quiet of early morning, during a walk or workout, or as our head hits the evening pillow, reflection is part and parcel of a thoughtful life, and a thoughtful life is a life that leads to effective action.
So as Christmas approaches, take time, sit back, enjoy a hot beverage, and reflect. Reflect upon what was, reflect upon what is, and reflect upon what can be, and who knows, Santa might just deliver…
For more, check out The C.A.T. Principle: Change, Action, Trust – Words to Live By, a Global Ebook Awards GOLD First Place Winner for Best Non-Fiction Self-Help Ebook of 2014, available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble. See the latest Amazon reviews here.
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