The Importance of Reflection

Sometimes it seems like life is one endless series of way-points on the endless journey to some idealistic goal. As soon as we accomplish something - such as finish school, get married, complete a quilt - everyone congratulates us and then immediate asks about our next step. Another degree? When are you going to have kids? What's the next quilt going to be? With all this pressure to succeed, succeed, succeed, it's very easy to discard our success as soon as we achieve it, and push on toward the next way-point on life's journey.

Reflection is the oft-neglected process of stopping your forward motion and looking back. It's feeling a sense of joy and well-deserved pride in our achievements, where we look not at how far we have to go, but at how far we've come. Reflection is like a little break on the race through life: make sure you take it every now and then. Stop and look around at all the good things in your life, and compare life now to what it was in the past. Are you happier now? If so, great! If not, maybe it's time to reconsider the goals that have brought you to where you are.

In either case, Reflection is an invaluable part of our growth, as it either lets us enjoy our success or it helps us to realize that we need to change our course. Even when your life is super busy, don't forget to stop and reflect.