Lean Quote: Five Habits that Enhance Self-Reflection and Personal Growth

In Lean Quote
May 14, 2021
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On Fridays I will post a Lean related Quote. Throughout our lifetimes many people touch our lives and leave us with words of wisdom. These can both be a source of new learning and also a point to pause and reflect upon lessons we have learned. Within Lean active learning is an important aspect on this journey because without learning we can not improve.

“Self-reflection entails asking yourself questions about your values, assessing your strengths and failures, thinking about your perceptions and interactions with others, and imagining where you want to take your life in the future.” — Robert L. Rosen

For many
people, new year’s resolutions involve some form of self-improvement. We want
to lose weight, quit smoking, or start an exercise program. These are all
worthwhile goals, but to make the most of the changes you want to create, you
should start with some self-reflection.

By definition,
self-reflection involves deliberate thinking about your own behavior and
beliefs. When you engage in this deliberate kind of thinking, you will develop
awareness of your mental and emotional states and awareness of your actions.
Developing this awareness is the basis for personal growth.

Five Habits
that Enhance Self-Reflection and Personal Growth

Be honest with yourself. You don’t do yourself any
favors if you aren’t 100% honest with yourself about how things are going
and how you are behaving.
Notice behavior patterns. We are all creatures of habit.
Some of these habits are helpful and others are not. It’s good to be aware
of your habits so you can actively weaken the ones you don’t want and
strengthen the ones you do want.
Be able to articulate your core
values. If
you don’t know what’s important to you, how can you ever grow and manifest
your best self? Take time to consider what’s most important to you so that
you can better evaluate whether or not you’re living those values.
Be forgiving. Change is hard and old habits
are hard to break. Be gentle with yourself when you don’t get it right.
It’s okay. We’re all human. We all make mistakes.
Keep track of your self-reflection. Start a journal where you
record your observations and monitor your personal growth. This will help
you when looking back at your year to remind yourself of where you’ve been
and where you want to go.