2022 has arrived and I’m sure you are all busy focusing on your New Year’s resolutions and how you will be moving closer towards your dreams this year. 

This is great and I fully encourage self development of any kind, but becoming the best version of yourself isn’t always about looking forward. It is so important to reflect on what you have done in the past year, what you could have done better and also what you did well as a woman.

 

This article will cover:

 

• How you can use reflection as a tool to boost motivation and consistency.

• Why you should be reflecting on your performance to find your weaknesses as a woman.

• Using reflection to improve your mental health as a woman.

• Some reflection based journaling prompts for you to try out.

 

“The most useful reflection involves the conscious consideration and analysis of beliefs and actions for the purpose of learning.” - Harvard Business Review

 

https://hbr.org/2017/03/why-you-should-make-time-for-self-reflection-even-if-you-hate-doing-it#:~:text=The%20most%20useful%20reflection%20involves,possible%20interpretations%2C%20and%20create%20meaning.

 

Reflecting on how far you’ve come, as a woman for motivation and consistency.

 

If, like me, you are relentless in pursuing your dream life you are probably very goal driven and this is great, but it can be very easy to overlook your own achievements when living like this. This is why reflection needs to be added into your routine as a Fierce Female and should be done alongside your goal setting for the most benefit.

 

There are many things that will influence how successful you are in achieving your goals but the number one most important factor is consistency. I promise you ladies if you don’t reflect on how far you’ve come and celebrate your wins you will become demotivated very quickly. Reflect on any progress you have made, no matter how small! You will never be satisfied with your life if you are just constantly looking forward to the next goal. Take a deep breath and give yourself some credit for getting this far!

 

Reflection for identifying weaknesses, improving efficiency and achieving your dreams

 

Reflection is not just a tool for finding causes to celebrate, it is also extremely useful for identifying your weaknesses and becoming a more efficient Fierce Female. You know me, I’m all about maintaining a super positive mindset, but I am also all about brutal honesty.

 

If you have been shooting for the same goal for a couple of years then maybe it’s time for some critical self reflection. When we aren’t happy with something in our lives it can be so easy to look outwardly for the problem, but if you want to become the best version of yourself you have to occasionally look inwardly at what you have been doing wrong. You will find that more often than not you are your own biggest obstacle when it comes to achieving your dreams.

 

Reflection for better mental health and quality of life as a woman

 

Reflection shouldn’t just be used as a tool for increasing efficiency and smashing goals, you should use it to protect your mental health! Reflecting on your mental health, what upsets you, what makes you anxious etc, is self care and self care is super important for productivity! Chances are you won’t feel like being productive if you feel like sh*t! 

 

This can be a tough pill to swallow but it's worth saying here that despite you giving them the benefit of the doubt, not all of your friends will want to see you win and will not always act with your best intentions in mind. If you have known a person for years and years you should consider whether they are truly someone you value having around, or if actually they don’t contribute anything positive to your life anymore and your friendship is purely based on loyalty. Whilst loyalty is a great quality to have, you do not owe anyone your friendship if they are unsupportive, make you feel stressed, sad or anything negative. Becoming the best woman you can be sometimes means cutting out negative relationships and forming a tight circle of supportive, uplifting and like minded friends. 

 

Reflection prompts to help you achieve your dreams as a woman:

 

Use these as journal prompts as regular self development exercise.

 

• List the things you are grateful for

• List your strengths and weaknesses

• List areas you’d like to work on in 2022

• Take note of things that trigger / anger / upset

• What can you release / get rid of in 2022 to boost productivity / reduce stress?

• What really makes you happy?

• What fears do you have that are holding you back?

• What are your core values?

• Are you living up to these core values in a way that you are proud of / makes you feel fulfilled?

• If not, what could you change about your lifestyle that would bring you closer to those core values?

• If you could, what advice would you give to your past self in the beginning of 2021?

 

Reflection is vital for Fierce Females who want to better themselves in 2022

 

In this Fierce article I have given you a few ways that you can use reflection to help you on your way to becoming the best woman you can be. If you have felt a little bit stuck this past year in the pursuit of your goals, reflection might just be the missing piece of the puzzle that will enhance your routine in 2022. Reflection can be a great tool for helping you to achieve your dreams but first you need to know what your dreams and goals actually are. Find out more about the importance of goal setting in my recent blog.