Creative Toolkit
As we've mentioned, reflection is different for everyone, and there is no 'textbook' way of how to reflect. However, there are some tools and methods that might aid your reflection; we've put them together to help you find something that works for you!
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Setting the Scene
Setting the Scene
Start by creating a reflective space for yourself. That includes, among other things, finding time, deciding the subject of your reflection deciding what sort of format you want to reflect in (see below), and who you might want to involve, if anyone.
Start by creating a reflective space for yourself. That includes, among other things, finding time, deciding the subject of your reflection deciding what sort of format you want to reflect in (see below), and who you might want to involve, if anyone.
What format should I reflect in?
What format should I reflect in?
Choosing the format of your reflection may simply be a decision of what you have to hand, or what you're comfortable with. However, every creative format has a different way of conveying your reflections, whether that's through tone, emotion, or content - and it may take some experimentation to find a format that you're satisfied with.
Art
Art
Film
Film
Theatre
Theatre
Dance
Dance
Drawing
Drawing
Photography
Photography
Music
Music
Poetry
Poetry
Podcast
Podcast
Writing
Writing
Digital Art
Digital Art
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Asking questions
Asking questions
Once you've set the scene, start focusing on the event, series of events, or general theme that you want to reflect on. There's no right or wrong way to do this, but it can be helpful to ask yourself a few general questions to direct your reflection. While some people find it helpful just to ask these questions in their head, other people find it helpful to take notes or to make a spider diagram to guide the next steps.
Once you've set the scene, start focusing on the event, series of events, or general theme that you want to reflect on. There's no right or wrong way to do this, but it can be helpful to ask yourself a few general questions to direct your reflection. While some people find it helpful just to ask these questions in their head, other people find it helpful to take notes or to make a spider diagram to guide the next steps.
What exactly happened?
What exactly happened?
How does this fit into the wider picture for you?
How does this fit into the wider picture for you?
When might this come up again?
When might this come up again?
What point are you starting from?
What point are you starting from?
Why did you feel the way you did?
Why did you feel the way you did?
What was difficult?
What was difficult?
Have you felt like this before?
Have you felt like this before?
Is there anything you might do differently going forwards?
Is there anything you might do differently going forwards?
Is there anything you want to explore further?
Is there anything you want to explore further?
What was easy?
What was easy?
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Experimenting & having fun
Experimenting & having fun
Having gathered your thoughts on a topic, this is when it's time to try and put pen to paper (figuratively) and try and convey some of those stories, feelings, and reflections in whatever medium you have chosen. This can be a process of trial and error, and it's more than normal to start from scratch or even change format at this point to better convey what you want to. This section is as much about the process as the end result - so keep playing around and experimenting to find what you're happy with.
Having gathered your thoughts on a topic, this is when it's time to try and put pen to paper (figuratively) and try and convey some of those stories, feelings, and reflections in whatever medium you have chosen. This can be a process of trial and error, and it's more than normal to start from scratch or even change format at this point to better convey what you want to. This section is as much about the process as the end result - so keep playing around and experimenting to find what you're happy with.
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Share your work
Share your work
This is very much optional, but sharing your work - either with someone you trust or a group of people can be hugely rewarding and show you elements and themes of your work that you hadn't realised yourself. Sharing your work can also inspire other people to reflect more creatively themselves going forwards - something that benefits everyone!
This is very much optional, but sharing your work - either with someone you trust or a group of people can be hugely rewarding and show you elements and themes of your work that you hadn't realised yourself. Sharing your work can also inspire other people to reflect more creatively themselves going forwards - something that benefits everyone!
