What is Reflection?
"If I speak of myself in different ways, that is because I look at myself in different ways."
- Michel de Montaigne
Looking inwards
Looking inwards
Reflecting is a process of looking back at an event or multiple events to examine your thoughts, feelings and emotions at the time.
Reflecting is a process of looking back at an event or multiple events to examine your thoughts, feelings and emotions at the time.
You already do it
You already do it
It's something that you've probably been doing unconsciously during your life, such as when something goes wrong and you're trying to work out what to do differently next time.
It's something that you've probably been doing unconsciously during your life, such as when something goes wrong and you're trying to work out what to do differently next time.
It's useful in medicine
It's useful in medicine
In medical education this process is harnessed as 'reflective practice' - a process of consistently examining how different situations, people, and wider events impact you as a person, and what you can learn from them.
In medical education this process is harnessed as 'reflective practice' - a process of consistently examining how different situations, people, and wider events impact you as a person, and what you can learn from them.
It's different for all of us
It's different for all of us
Reflection is a personal process, and as a result different people reflect in different ways. The most important thing is that you find a way that's useful for yourself, and that you can produce a reflection from.
Reflection is a personal process, and as a result different people reflect in different ways. The most important thing is that you find a way that's useful for yourself, and that you can produce a reflection from.
Why should I reflect?
Why should I reflect?
As reflection is a normal part of many of our lives, it's probably more accurate to ask why should you formalise this process.
As reflection is a normal part of many of our lives, it's probably more accurate to ask why should you formalise this process.
Learning more about reflective practice and techniques can help you harness your reflections to maximise the learning opportunities from the events and people around you.
Learning more about reflective practice and techniques can help you harness your reflections to maximise the learning opportunities from the events and people around you.
It also allows you to take a step backwards and see the big picture.
It also allows you to take a step backwards and see the big picture.
