The Importance of Self Reflection in Reaching Goals

Often, we tend to classify self-thought or self-awareness as narcissistic or conceited. While it is true that becoming overly concerned with your self leads to selfishness, it is also important that we all take the time for self-reflection.

Self reflection leads to self regulation, essential to reach your goals.
Twelve step addiction programs, religion, and coaching for personal improvement all call for self-examination in order to uncover the root of behaviors we wish to change. Allen R. McConnell, professor of Psychology at Miami University, points out in Psychology Today, that reflection is critical for self-improvement and self regulation.

Self regulation is simply the way in which we behave in order to obtained desired goals. Minus self reflection we are simply operating on perception or living reactively to our environment, not living and reacting from within ourselves. Reaching any goal, according to McConnell, requires two basic elements: 1) a goal and (2) the realization of where we are currently so that we can make necessary changes to reach our goals.

Without a doubt goals will go unrealized without self awareness and self realization. You cannot get to where you are going until you first figure out where you are.

Sometime, self reflection is difficult. When we begin to determine what we need to change in order to reach our goals it requires that we take a look at negative aspects of ourselves. It is natural to want to avoid seeing ourselves in a negative light, but it is only in identifying our short-comings that we are able to move past them, to reach our goals.

How to successfully use self reflection to reach your goals.
There are two extremes between which we must balance in order to use self reflection as a means of improving ourselves and reaching our goals.

First, we must not become overly indulgent in picking out our own faults. This is counter-productive to self improvement and can lead to the construction of mental barriers in reaching goals. We must not allow ourselves to be overcome by our shortcomings. Rather, if we look at things we wish to change about our attitudes or behavior it must be done in small, manageable pieces.

Second, we must maintain the line between self reflection and self absorption. Self absorption is what leads to narcissistic behaviors and attitudes. Self reflection, McConnell notes, should be undertaken for the purpose of self-understanding. Focus on the self driven by ego-centrism leads to megalomaniacal behavior that is self seeking and devoid of self regulation.

The value of self reflection in reaching goals.
Those who have successfully completed addiction programs, or followed religions that emphasize self reflection have proven that being aware of ourselves is a critical step toward self improvement.

While it is easy to set goals, it is essential to practice some measure of self reflection and self awareness in order to ever make progress toward our goals.

Source: Psychology Today