4 Questions to Ask at the End of the Week for Self-Reflection
One week flows unchanged into the next until you ask different questions. Good intentions fade. Old patterns hang on until you adopt a new approach.
5 uncomfortable reflections:
- You burned the candle at both ends again.
- You hoped things would be better, but they dragged on.
- You wanted to break a painful pattern, but it still plagues you.
- You found reasons to postpone things that mattered and gave yourself to urgencies.
- You hid behind changing others when you should have worked on yourself.
Don’t ruminate on things you don’t like. Don’t ignore them either.
Self-awareness is necessary for growth. You see yourself before you develop yourself. This requires honest self-reflection.
4 questions to ask at the end of the week for self-reflection:
#1. How did you receive help this week?
You’re probably good at giving help. How did you receive it?
- I let myself be seen when I …
- I asked _________ for advice.
- I sought help for an issue from ________.
- I said yes when _________ offered help.
The people who rise the highest receive the most help.
#2. What’s one thing you did this week that you want to stop?
Your inner critic might give you a long list of stupid things you did. If you think of many things you need to stop, record only one.
#3. What three things are you thankful you did this week?
Feel free to record more than three, but if you can’t think of three your inner critic is sucking the life out of you.
Your brain might look for big things to be thankful you did. Don’t let the need for big things be the reason you don’t express gratitude.
#4. What’s one thing you want to do next week?
Do something new. Don’t simply add fuel to established patterns.
What questions would you add to the above list?
Still curious:
Questions Proactive People Ask
87 Self-Reflection Questions for Introspection
Good questions. I would add:
1. What surprised me this week and what can I learn from it?
2. What opinion or opinions do I need to change based on new data?
3. In what situations do I need to do more listening and less talking?
Brilliant Paul. My favorite is “What surprised me….”
2 questions for Friday pm:
“What did I learn this week?”
“What did I give this week?”
(“Give” is compassion in terms of time to help someone by listening, with thoughts or money)
Dan
I must tell you: This article was a “Bulls-eye” in my hard headed pride this week. In a new leadership role and it seems all is in a whirlwind around me and I’ve been so concentrated on making sure others are doing their role that mine was eclipsed.
Thank you, Dan, for the mild rebuke!
Paul Fredericks, Phoenix AZ
Thanks Paul, I find sincere leaders often neglect self-leadership. Cheers
My son, Andy read what I posted and added:
What spot did I have the best lunch at this week?
Years ago I heard an interview on mindfulness & gratitude and jotted down the prompts the author offered. I still have them on a grubby post it note:
What are three things that surprised, inspired, delighted, or intrigued you today?
I wish I could say I reflect on those questions every day, but I do some version of it at least weekly.
Early I liked reflecting at the end of the year, however, than I discovered self-reflection method that I practice every day. Here is a useful article that shows what is self-reflection https://productive.fish/blog/self-reflection/