Mindful Monday Word-Reflection
Reflection. Do you think of looking at the sunrise off of a lake? Do you think of the suns reflection off of your windshield? Do you think of a mirror, a window or a super power reflecting off your chest! When you look in the mirror at your own reflection, what do you see? Are you knit picking at the shape of your nose or the color or your eyes? Don’t! Now, stop to look at your reflection again, this time look at who you are. This goes deep, knowing who you are and what you like about yourself as well as what you’d like to change about who you are.
As I reflect on this word, reflection, another thought comes to mind. Reflect back to the beginning of the New Year. Have I accomplished out all I set out to do in 2022? Absolutely not! Have I made progress, ABSOLUTELY! Do I have more work to do? Yes! Will I accomplish it? I will certainly give it my best each and every day, so long as I reflect upon what I’m working on, if it’s is my own personal growth, my relationships, my organization, etc. So long as I stop to reflect on where the days have taken me, the progress I have made, and how I can improve on various platforms, I will see them all through. It’s important to stop, breathe, reflect, take it all in and move forward, one step at a time.
Reflection can mean something different to each of us, however, this Mindful Monday I’m speaking of reflection of who you are, who you want to be and how to teach our own children to become aware of their reflection. Know your why. Know why you want to change, and, hopefully it’s for the better! Know the behavior(s) you want to change. Know the person you want to become. Know how you want to start the process of change, look at your reflection, often. How does one find the awareness of reflection in their own lives?
Know your why. Why do you want to change who you are at this time in your life.
Be aware that this is a process, your change in your reflection does not happen overnight.
Focus on the learning, the lesson, not so much the teaching.
Reflect often. We are all works in progress!
Allow yourself time to become.
How do we teach this to our children, to reflect on who they are? When I was teaching preschool and even when our children were little, I used this technology quite a bit. When a child came to me to ‘tattle’ or say that so and so said or did something that upset them, I took the two children aside and asked them what happened. Hearing both sides of a story is important. Next, I asked the child how this made them feel and we all listened. Finally, I asked the other student how they would feel if this was said or this happened to them. This always put a different spin on the situation as we all listened and felt the emotions. I’m happy to say that this worked every single time!
Reflection supports us to remember lessons learned and to appreciate the accomplishment. If we are more aware of lessons learned, we become more grateful in our experiences and become more in tune to identify the things we wish to do different. When we support your own children’s goals, they begin to take ownership of them and want to learn, reflect on how to overcome obstacles and this will build confidence, esteem and allow them to grow into a better version of oneself.
Tips to Teach a Child How to Be Reflective:
Support your child in achieving their OWN goals, hopes and dreams.
Create a Journal of Reflection for your child to express their OWN goals, hopes and dreams.
Make time for meetings to discuss your child’s goals, hopes and dreams.
By teaching them to reflect on these brings a new awareness to them. They will want to stop to think about, to reflect upon and to discuss what they have accomplished, what they think they can change and with your support and guidance to accomplish them.
Our character Self-Esteem Elephant teaches self-esteem and builds confidence in our children. I visited a number of Scout Troops and classrooms to discuss what self-esteem and confidence meant to the children. When I first asked a child what they like about who they are, their immediate response was, “I don’t know.”
Why? Most likely nobody ever asked them and they had never stopped to reflect on the question. Once they were give a few moments and some prompts from me, they were all to willing to share! I simple stated that I liked your curly hair, or I saw you speaking to kindly to your friend, etc. Before you knew it, each and every child had something to share positive about what they liked about who they are.
As much as I’m embarrassed to say, I didn’t stop to ask our own children this question. Maybe as an adult we assume many times that they are fine, or that they have confidence and that they can do things. While this may all be true, to bring in reflection and support your child’s goals, dreams and wishes is a whole new level. You’ll not only build up their confidence in who they are, you’re building trust and respect between the both of you which builds a firm foundation to build upon. Allow them to grow. Allow them to REFLECT. Allow them dream and to dream big! What’s important is that they do stop to reflect, if something isn’t working as according to plan, stop and reflect on why?
TELL me and I forget, TEACH me and I remember, INVOLVE me and I learn. Benjamin Franklin