Table of Contents
Introduction
In the hurry of life, we forget about one of the biggest journeys ever-a journey towards within. Self-discovery is not searching for something unknown, but finding truths in us that have been there all along. We will unlock parts of ourselves, understand our desires, and think over our weaknesses with compassion through that easy, but powerful act of reflection. There is no outside map for this journey. It is one created in the quieter moments of reflection and the nerve to face who we really are. For the first time, by turning within, we can now see not just who we are at the moment but who we can be tomorrow.
The Necessity of Self-Reflection: Understanding the Inner Landscape
In our busy lifestyle today, we are bombarded from all directions by external demands—work, social engagement, technology, and more. We are constantly running on at least one treadmill or another. Self-reflection in this endless noise becomes a necessity because it gives us a break to look within. It gives us space to step back and ponder the world in ourselves: thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and desires. The tool that allows us to navigate the complexities of our lives is through deeper knowledge of who we are really meant to be.
Taking time to look inward gives one a chance to tune out all the noise out there and zero in on the inside of our world. We tend to become more conscious about our thoughts, feelings, and reactions. We pass through the rest of life out of habit or in reaction to things happening around us. We pause, take time to question ourselves on what motivates our actions and decisions and whether they are in line with our core values. Self-reflection is what stops those questions from lingering in our minds.
Our behavior has to be defined by the driving forces behind it. Most of us don’t know what they are holding within themselves. That’s because some of the underlying beliefs and patterns that make up our actions may not be as visible as we portray them to be. The experiences we have in the past might shape some reactions to current situations without most people knowing about it. Self-reflection reveals the hidden subconscious triggers toward developing clarity on why we react in some specific ways. Once we are conscious of these hidden drivers, differences in unhealthy patterns can be brought into place, giving us freedom from reactive behavior and starting to make more mindful empowered choices.
Self-reflection also helps discover our aspirations and goals in life. At times in our lives, the circumstances around us (societal pressure or others’ expectations from us) deteriorate our ability and judgment, and we become lost from what our true desire is. Self-inspection clears our intentions; it sifts out which of the desires are within us from those that result from others. It leads our acts to be correctly aligned to our purpose, as derived from self-inspection or reflection on one’s own experiences.
In this regard, self-inspection fosters emotional intelligence, an indispensable element for development and fulfillment. It thus enables one to have more control over emotional functioning through improved relationships in life and better mental health. Self-reflection helps in observing when one is stressed or anxious; it creates a space without judgments to be able to look into them. This enables us to process our emotions instead of suppressing them. By processing such emotions, it encourages balance and resilience.
Lastly, self-reflection practice ensures we identify our improvements and development. There is always so much going on in life, and we tend to think about what is behind us or what we need rather than acknowledging how far we have progressed. Through this self-reflection, we may be proud of ourselves above our achievements, learn from our failures, and appreciate self-improvement. Constant reflection on our experiences allows us to have a perspective over our journey as it makes us motivated and confident towards ourselves.
In a word, self-reflection is the unlocking of one’s deeper understanding of himself or herself. But without it, we end up being just like automatons, unaware and unexamined in our actions and behaviors, living unconscious to desire. It is through self-reflection that one begins to see thoughts and actions clearly, enabling decisions that are conscious and healing emotional wounds to get a life closer to who they really are. Understanding our inner landscape, though, helps us in bringing to life what is intentional, fulfilling, and true.
The Benefits of Self-Discovery Through Reflection: Unlocking Inner Potential
Unlocking the inner potential is one of the biggest benefits from the self-discovering process through introspection. Through introspection, we unlock our own potential doors. Self-discovery is very dynamism-inclusive in scope; it includes a lot of transformation and personal growth entailed by this development, so reflection about ourselves is appropriate to bring out any dormant talents or growing areas to come to know who we are inside. Self-reflection will have numerous positive effects that will lead to self-discovery; these benefits are widespread enough in the many aspects of who we are, from how we view ourselves to how we interact with others. Below is a partial list of some of the most significant advantages offered by self-reflection to the process of self-discovery:
1. Improved Self-Awareness: Finding Out Who You Really Are
The greatest tangible benefit that self-reflection endows is improved self-awareness. Then, in considering our thoughts and behaviors and emotional responses, we begin to know who we are. Self-reflection then throws us back from the superficial dimensions of who we are—our social roles, external expectations—and gives us an insight into the core of who we are. Then, we can start recognizing our real strengths, weaknesses, values, and what we really want more clearly.
This gives us the power to decide with our real selves, rather than reacting to the happenings of life. Through self-exploration, we begin to understand our ways and look out for the prejudices hidden in our thoughts, realizing how experiences of our past have molded our present situations. Being aware of this, we start taking conscious decisions that are rightly in line with our values and aspirations.
2. Higher Emotional Intelligence: Emotional Monitoring and Control
The third basic skill develops in the sphere of emotional intelligence (EQ) through self-reflection; EQ basically involves understanding and controlling one’s own emotions as well as the ability to empathize with the emotion of others. By undergoing self-reflection, we offer room to think about our emotional reaction to most scenarios. Therefore, we can become anything but impulsive; instead, we can pause, process, and understand our emotions.
In terms of reflective consciousness about why we feel, it can be really helpful, but if we move on from that reflection, we do become tuned into our emotional landscape. We learn how to handle stress and hardship better, how to manage conflicts more effectively, and to act more mindfully in our response to hardness. This process of reflection also helps them develop empathy with others because now they understand their emotions through an enhanced appreciation of their own feelings and what causes them. Emotional intelligence leads to good communication and strong relationships, besides healthy mental conditions.
3. Lissimo Life Hiding Pothead: Showcasing Strengths and Talents
Probably one of the most profound benefits of self-reflection is to discover hidden potential. Too often, we underestimate the fullness of our talents and our capabilities because we get caught in the din of a busy life or are plagued by doubts that often depict what we cannot do. Self-reflection gives us the space to step back and reappraise what has been happening, so we can now understand success and talents under different eyes.
Therefore, we can think of where we might have experienced patterns of strength unknown to us in the rush of day-to-day living. That will help us determine any skills or passions we may have neglected or dismissed, and open up chances for their growth and development. It may unearth the hidden potential inside us, therefore enabling us to be more confident about our capabilities and more ready to take up new challenges in our personal and professional lives.
4. Value alignment: Clear sense of purpose
One can gain a good sense of direction and purpose in life through self-reflection, among other things. Many people are unable to clearly define their goals or live with what is essential to them because they have never made time to consider what matters to them. Self-reflection allows finding what is most important in life-whether it will be the relationships, a career, creativity, personal development, and more-or health.
Reflecting on our past experiences, and the emotions they bring to mind, would mean we come to realize what truly satisfies and brings us joy. It helps in establishing, without the influence of all external pressures or societal expectations, what it is that we truly want for ourselves. As we begin gaining this insight, we set more meaningful, purpose-driven goals-fitting with our values-because life will become even more meaningful and balanced.
5. Empowerment and Self-Compassion: The End of Limiting Beliefs
Reflection, for instance, teaches us to perceive how some beliefs inside of us limit our potential. Most of the time, those beliefs spring from a past experience or societal conditioning or perhaps fear of failure. By telling ourselves those stories, we can look back at negative patterns of thought that hold us in check. The recognition gives us the power to be able to question it and change it for our betterment.
Self-reflection thus leads us to relinquish self-doubt and fear in place of self-compassion and empowerment by acknowledging our imperfections yet embracing them with loving kindness, building resilience and confidence to take risks and pursue new opportunities. The paradigm shift enables us to move forward in life by possessing a feeling of agency and determination, not being shrouded by the fright of mistakes or failings.
6. Healing and Personal Growth: Letting Go of the Past
Healing generally is a valuable tool of self-reflection because most of us carry around emotional baggage from the past, whether failure, trauma, rejection, or regrets. To process unresolved emotions through self-reflection enables an individual to let go of the pain and move on. Making sense of these past experiences and finding meaning in them as a result of reflection heals and allows for emotional release.
We also come to remember the lessons we’ve learned and grow out of acknowledging our past wounds. In a way, we find positive experiences-even the negative ones-stepstones to greater knowledge, self-knowing, and self-improvement. The process of releasing past offenses, resentments, or self-blame for the purpose of making room for new growth and change is called self-reflection.
7. Growth Mindset: Process Improvement
A growth mentality develops as a consequence of reflection. A growth mentality refers to the belief that abilities and intelligence may be acquired over time via work, education, and perseverance. A person starts seeing such situations not as flaws or failures but opportunities for more growth the moment he or she thinks about problems and setbacks.
Self-reflection helps us view setbacks as learning experiences, encouraging persistence in the face of adversity. It empowers one to seize challenges with optimism and determination because we are given the opportunity to get it right and work for it to be better, showing that one is a person who never stops becoming.
The Impact of Self-Discovery Through Reflection: Transforming Your Life
Self-discovery through introspection, according to me, is transformation and change influencing one’s life and not being aware of who that person is. That requires more than the analysis of a thought or an activity but rather transformation in the way to look at oneself and transform, as well as in relation to the outside world. The process has deep, long-term effects for virtually every aspect of personal life whether it is interpersonal relations, personal growth, conditions of wellness, or professional advancement.
1. Decisiveness with a sense of intent in what is decided
One of the easiest and immediate benefits of self-reflection is having good decision-making abilities. Self-reflection upon our past and the things we did input into our experiences that are valuable to make sensible decisions in the future. Self-reflection makes us think about our goals, values, and desires before taking action, so this makes sure our choices are quite easy to make and reflect who we really are in ourselves rather than some outer pressure or momentary impulses.
Self-reflection opens our eyes to what would drive the choices we make: emotional reactions, subconscious beliefs, or past patterns. Knowing these influences, we are able to make decisions that are not only rational but more aligned to our deeper values and long-term goals and are not simply repetitive of what has been seen in the past. In a clear manner, we avoid pitfalls born from previous mistakes and act confidently and purposefully. Self-reflection would provide clarity for decisions concerning choosing a career path, choosing a relationship, or even significant everyday choices.
2. Healthier Relationships: Building Deeper Connections
Self-reflection does not only hit in personal development but also impacts the way we relate to others. Taking some time to reflect on our relationship gives us a keen insight into how we communicate, respond and contribute to the situation around us. Therefore, it encourages people to look at their behavior in relationships with their family, friends, or romantic partners and assess how they can improve.
Looking back at previous relationships, we can come to understand some of the emotional push and pull factors that propel our behaviors. This clarity leads us to respond in a more empathetic manner, think before we speak, and communicate properly. We can then cease blaming others for our issues or rehashing patterns of toxic relationships we once had. By gaining this sense of awareness, we are also able to make changes to assist the connections we make to be healthier and more meaningful. Improving our potential self-understanding thus improves our potential connections with others around us, adding depth and richness to relationships.
3. Increased Authenticity: Life on One’s Own Terms
It is in reflection where we uncover our ability to live a truthful life. Most of us are tainted by what other people think, want, and expect, which is why it enters their lives but not ours-not from the core or deep within us. Through self-reflection, we are able to probe into these external presses and discover what indeed matters to us, freeing ourselves out of being chained by other people’s expectations.
It is while contemplating on what actually happened to us that we realize who we really are and what roles we play or adopt in response to the external forces. This realization empowers us to peel off any false facade and start living according to our true selves. Embracing our true selves will give us the confidence to pursue our passions, voice our opinions, and make decisions based on who we really are. Self-reflection enhances increased self-acceptance as one stops seeking validation from other people and instead finds an inner value for themselves. Authentic living instills a deep feeling of gratification and serenity.
4. Personal Growth and Empowerment: Unlocking Your Full Potential
Self-reflection brings about transformative change on personal growth; for in taking time to reflect, that person understands and looks at their strengths, weaknesses, past experiences, and exactly where their full potential lies. Having realized the critical areas of strength on which we are grounded and those areas of improvement, we achieve introspection during this process. We discover our goals through self-reflection, acquire different skills, and knowingly take deliberate steps toward becoming who we want to be.
We learn good lessons in reflection from setbacks and failures. It creates a growth mindset: failure not as an obstacle but as a good opportunity for learning and development. As we are nurturing greater sensitivity to our potential and strengths, we also develop confidence in overcoming obstacles and new challenges. This sense of empowerment leads us on the journey of personal growth-thus challenging our boundaries, boundaries of our comfort levels, and excellence.
5. Resilience: the ability to cope with life’s challenges
Self-reflection affects our lives even more severely in terms of handling adversities and challenges. Life, as it is constituted, has inevitable befalls whether through the side of loss or failure at personal levels or unfortunate situations. By providing means of looking into ourselves, reflecting on our experiences, understanding the deeper meanings of them, and eventually formulating the lessons offered to us by them, we become stronger through these selves. Instead of being crushed by reverses, we learn how to fall and rise back in robust form.
Self-reflection can analyze emotional responses during adversity by having a more balanced approach. It gives a person an understanding of how to react when he or she is under stress by developing control over his or her emotional response during such times. Gradually, self-reflection is able to construct emotional strength in people as they try to deal with the changing phases of life.
6. Improved Well-being: The Search for the Balanced Life End
The implication of self-reflection is not just emotional and intellectual; it also contributes to general well-being and mental health. Upon embarking on the process of self-reflection, we would gain increased compassion and tolerance for ourselves. We would no longer be so hard on ourselves as we are all imperfect human beings en route to improvement. This self-compassion would contribute towards better mental health by letting go of self-judgment and embracing everything that makes us human.
Identification of all sources of stress, dissatisfaction, and burnouts in our life can also be through self-reflection. We come to know our habits, lifestyle, and priorities so that we can make conscious choices to eliminate the bad and enhance the goodness happening in our life. This could be a healthy boundary, a self-care priority, or a toxic relationship- all this becomes achievable through self-reflection to create a more balanced and fulfilling life. As we gain clarity on what energizes us, we can then actually focus our time and energy on those activities and relationships that invigorate our lives and make us happy.
7. A Deeper Purpose: Living Life with a Purpose
Of the greatest powers of self-reflection is when it initiates someone into a sense of purpose. The more one reflects on values, goals, and aspirations, the more that person comes to realize his or her true purpose on earth. This sense of purpose becomes the guiding force in choices, actions, and relationships. Self-reflection also helps you know if you are living in alignment with your deepest desires, encouraging you to set meaningful goals that could lead you to achieving that personal fulfillment.
This continuously keeps us on track toward our greater life objectives by observing where we are doing well and where we need improvement. Clarity, obtained through reflection, puts a person on the right road in terms of decisions that reflect on our inner self and aspirations rather than other people’s expectations. Living with intention creates a life much more focused, energetic, and meaningful.
Why Self-Reflection is Essential for a Meaningful Life
How busy our daily lives are that we forget to experience self-reflection. It is through reflection where you can get about yourself, what you want, and how you want to live. It’s this introspective practice but one which holds immense power in framing meaningful life full of purpose and authenticity. We might end up living by default and reacting to the twists of life without any sort of guidance. Here’s how self-reflection helps design a meaningful life.
1. Clarity and Aligned Values
The first is connecting with core values or beliefs, which self-reflection assists in doing. As we hasten to keep up with the many expectations and obligations in life, we can easily become lost in what others expect of us, societal norms, and all the external pressures. We may not even recognize that we are not being true to what we really value the most. Through introspection, clarity emerges on values that then act as the leading guidance for our choices, actions, and relationships.
When we reflect on the things that most matter to us—whether honesty, compassion, personal growth, or creativity—are things that we want our lives to be. As we reflect on ourselves, we can step back and see which choices and behaviors we are making about these core values in life. We build a life that holds itself out there, standing tall with what we value, and thereby might allow us to feel meaningful and true to who we are.
2. Personal growth
A progressive and developing meaning of life comes with self-reflection as the best way through, and it is in carrying difficulties and experiences and opportunities that lead to the making of who we are. Without reflection, however, these experiences never help us learn from them. Self-reflection brings in viewing for one to see what they do, come to a decision, and the outcome of such for the knowledge drawn from them.
Being able to reflect on things indicates how we have grown and become better over time. It may be that we notice a pattern of behavior we want to change, or new strengths and insights are recognized, but self-reflection provides the space to adjust and act in continuing personal development. Through this, we become more aware of ourselves and advance in ways toward even greater emotional intelligence, adaptability, and an even deeper understanding of who we are becoming.
3. Increased Self-Awareness: Getting in Touch with One’s Self for Real
Hence, self-reflection is the core foundation of living a meaningful life because the more a person reflects on himself in life, the more he listens to his inner thoughts and emotions with corresponding motivations; one is then aware of his authentic desire rather than just acting on what was influenced or mandated by the outside world, in this case, society.
The reflective account will explain not only what we want but also why. Are our goals people-pleasers or self-pleasers? Do we decide because we are passionate or out of fear of not knowing and losing? One gets the opportunity to steer their actions in line with true desires with this reflective account, leading to more purposeful and happier lives.
4. Living with Purpose: Creating a Life of More Purpose and Meaning
A meaningful existence develops from conscious decisions, not from natural evolution. Self-reflection empowers one to that extent only. We reflect on our choices and how we were led-consciously or unconsciously-because we have been there. We start seeing the trends that have kept us doing
It helps us get a clearer sense of direction and purpose. Decisions are made based on what is aligned to long-term goals and the kind of life we want to create. Whether choosing a career path to take, deciding where to put our time and energy, or how we should be relating to those around us, self-reflection helps us engage in life purposefully and intentionally.
5. Emotional Resilience: Lessons from Challenges
There are always going to be tough moments in life, and reflective self-analysis is the first step towards taking emotional resilience to combat the challenges ahead. A setback or any adverse situation makes it easy to turn into a victim or feel defeated. However, through self-reflection, we learn to process and make sense out of the challenges we are going through, where we gain some valuable insights during the process.
Such a reflection by introspection will also let us understand our emotional responses to stressors. We can then reflect and reassess in a distant view from the situation, rather than in an impulsive emotional or swept-away-kind-of-emotion. This is where one finds a sense of their moments of stressful situations, areas for improvements in oneself, and then move forward more courageously and wisely. This type of self-reflective process develops emotional strength that will help an individual overcome the problems in the future. It gives meaning to life through suffering.
6. Healing from the Past: Letting Go of What No Longer Serves Us
We can recognize the areas we hold resentment, guilt, and regret in our lives through reflection. We free ourselves up to move on with much more clarity and emotional well-being by processing these emotions and letting go of hurtful past situations. Healing gives us an allowance for embracing the present moment and the space to integrate new experiences into our lives without the burden of the past weighing on us. The value of healing by reflection has a lot to do with building a life that is meaningful and emotionally fulfilling.
7. Meaningful Relationship Building: Understanding Others Through Reflection
The quality of our relationships with others will determine a good part of the significance that we assign to life. Such qualities are achieved through self-reflection, meaning getting to know ourselves and the people in our lives better. We look back at how we communicate with other people and see just how we operate, what we need from the people we are dealing with, and how we fit into the bigger equation of the relationship.
But self-reflection also enables us to know the situations where we consciously repeat unhealthy relationship patterns, be it a situation of miscommunication, or lack of defined boundaries, or unmet emotional needs. Becoming more self-aware, thus allowing us to grow relationships that bring depth and richness to our lives, could really give meaning to it. Also, we will be more empathetic and compassionate with the people we are communicating with; therefore, we build deeper connections and increase our sense of meaning in social life.
Conclusion: A Voyage of Self-Discovery – Reflective Enquiry into Personal Knowledge
It is only in our fast life that we observe less time for reflection. But this is where the key to a more profound and fruit-bearing life lies. That kind of self-discovery with the help of reflection is definitely not a one-time activity or a merely sporadic exercise but something more of a constant growth, learning, and evolution toward being the best we can be. It is through these moments of reflection that I get layers about thoughts, behaviors, and emotions toward clarity on things I value. There is what I want, and there is what gives meaning.
Through constant self-reflection, we can acquire valuable insights wherein our actions will actually represent the real thing, wherein our decisions will bring out the brightness in our lives, and nothing will stop us from fighting the inevitable challenges of life. A self-discovered individual can tell who he really is, leave false social pressures and live a true, meaningful, and purposeful life.
Lastly, through self-reflection, it will create leading change for enhanced self-awareness, emotional stability, and personal fulfillment. Having an ongoing understanding of who you are and what it is that you really want in life empowers you to take charge of your life. Remember, therefore, as you go on your journey inside of you that reflection is not only looking back but looking inwards to live life the way it was truly meant to be lived: for you.
FAQs
1. What is the role of self-reflection in contemporary fast-paced living?
Self-reflection plays an important part in grounding people living in a fast world where distractions and pressures from the external environment are assumed to engulf them. It sometimes becomes the space where individuals can slow down, examine their actions, and reconnect to their deeper values. While technology and social media drive us to react and engage impulsively, self-reflection fosters thoughtful thinking, which leads us to make conscious decisions and know what we really want. In a world that hardly ever slows down, self-reflection becomes a way of retaking control over one’s life and living authentically.
2. How does self-reflection contribute to mental health and wellbeing?
Reflecting upon oneself can profoundly improve mental health and general wellbeing through the increase of self-awareness and emotional regulation. Self-reflection of our thoughts and emotions gives us an idea of what can build up stress, anxiety, or joy. In this way, we build healthier ways of coping with such emotions. This may help because challenges can be met calmly, and there’s more time for self-care. Self-reflection also promotes self-compassion because we learn to treat ourselves in the same courteous and understanding manner we show our fellow human beings, thus bettering our emotional balance and resilience.
3. Does reflection assist in better goal formulation?c
Absolutely. We can reflect on past experiences, successes, and setbacks through reflection; such information informs the goal-setting process. By reflecting on what has worked or hasn’t worked in the past, we can set up more realistic, achievable, meaningful goals according to the actual desires in our life. Self-reflection helps to recognize the values and motives guiding our actions to ensure that our goals are indeed aligned with who we are at our core. Clarity in this may also help us stay focused and motivated in our journey to achieving these goals.
4. How can I easily begin practicing self-reflection?
To get started on self-reflection is easy but must be consistent. Begin by dedicating time daily or weekly into quiet reflection. You may start with journaling or questioning yourself in the following terms: “What worked? Today, how did I feel about the actions I undertook? What should I do next time?” You can explore your emotions and responses to particular events and then draw more profound insights from this. It becomes a routine gradually, and you begin to feel the change it is making to one’s self-awareness and personal growth over time.
5. How will self-reflection improve my relationships with others?
Self-reflection enhances relationships due to increased self-awareness and improved emotional intelligence. You start recognizing patterns in your style of communication, emotional responses, and behaviors upon reflecting on your interactions. Know-how brings a change in doing things, for instance, to listen better, to know when one needs privacy, and people respond to our actions. Self-reflection also helps us be more considerate of others; because we begin to see and appreciate other people’s points of views and emotions regarding people around us, thus fostering authentic and harmonious relationships.
6. What are some common barriers to introspection, and how might I overcome them?
Some common barriers to introspection are constraints of time, distractions (for example, technology), and avoidance because what one learns and perhaps does not want to know will be uncomfortable. Finding the time for reflection is certainly difficult; yet it has to be done as a healthy part of life. It may provide you with quiet space for reflection without your phone or other gadgets. It’s challenging to face uncomfortable truths, but such steps result in growth. If it’s difficult, you can begin with small reflections and work up to more difficult introspection. Self-reflection is something that takes time and practice.
7. Can self-reflection help me overcome feelings of stagnation or dissatisfaction?
No; self-reflection is probably the best tool to overcome stagnation or dissatisfaction, because if you look into your current life situation and what has led you to this point, it will help you reveal the underlying causes of your dissatisfaction. Are you getting satisfaction from your work or relationships or personal life? Are you living in alignment with your values or goals? Self-reflection helps you know what needs to be changed and make concrete decisions that can lead to making a life that is meaningful enough to meet your inner desires.
8. How can self-reflection help me identify my purpose in life?
Self-reflection is pretty important while trying to figure out one’s purpose in life because it helps people get connected to their real core values, passions, and motivations. It leads you to realize the different patterns and interests that can be best met in your life. Self-reflection can also enable you to identify what you would like to contribute to the world and what legacy you would like to leave behind. Self-reflection helps guide you in answering questions like “What activities make me feel most alive?” or “What do I want to be remembered for?” towards unearthing one’s purpose and living intentionally.
9. How could self-reflection balance my life?
Self-reflection is a way of regularly checking in with yourself, and it balances life. You will come to realize, through reflection, the things in your life over which you are committing yourself or neglecting self-care. If you are being overwhelmed by work or other responsibilities, then through self-reflection, you can highlight what really matters to you and prioritize them accordingly so that you set boundaries for yourself once again. And, through reflection on the relationships in your life and how they have an influence on your feelings about your own well-being, you can foster the relationships that nourish a sense of your happiness and growth, thus living a more harmonious life.
10. How does self-reflection enhance my ability to make better decisions?
Self-reflection enhances decision-making because you can take your time in reflecting on past experiences, values, and desired outcomes before any actual choices are made. It helps you analyze your motives for every decision so you do not make an act out of impulse or fear. Also, by reviewing the past choices and mistakes, you are able to find patterns, know what you are good at and not good at, and, consequently, more confidently and wisely decide the next time. It also will help you make decisions that not only go according to plan but in conjunction with yourself and long-term goals.