Weekly Wellbeing: Reflection Rituals
Sometimes, our lives can be so busy that it can be hard to slow down and take the time to think about how things are going for us. I personally find it hard to unwind when I'm feeling overwhelmed with all of my responsibilities. I often feel like the hamster in the gif below. 
That's when reflection comes in. Slowing down and taking the time to truly understand how we feel, what has gone well, what hasn't gone well and our hopes for the future can be really important, especially as this year comes to a close and we embark on new beginnings. Reflection is also a form of self-care.
I often keep a list of reflection prompts for the week, month and year to look at when I have a spare moment. For me, reflection helps me to realise what I want out of life and where my priorities lie. One of my favourite ways to reflect is to think about the times where I've helped other people, and moments where someone has helped me. I also reflect on what keeps me motivated and inspired.
Sometimes, it can be hard to reflect. We might be interrupted by our family members and pets, find it difficult to switch off from messages and emails, or be so worried about someone or something that we just can't concentrate on ourselves.
In those situations, it could be helpful to have something that helps you feel connected to the present moment and signals to you that it's time to reflect. This could be something like an object, song, time, prayer, mantra, place, space, image, quote or anything else you can imagine. 🙂
It doesn't have to have a religious connection, but could be something that makes you feel safe and grounded.
With this in mind, here are the questions for this week's wellbeing activity:
- What is an aspect of your life you want to reflect on?
- Share something that helps you reflect! I'd love to hear everyone's insights and try out some ideas!
Comments
What is an aspect of your life you want to reflect on?
How hard on myself i can be. I've been catching myself thinking very negative self thoughts lately, mainly about my abilities in relation to advancing my work/career. And being in a negative self space unsurprisingly makes me move avoidant of the tasks i have to complete.
Share something that helps you reflect!
Reminding myself to breath and trying to catch myself in the moment and either just letting the thought pass me by or challenging it with a compassionate view point. Meditation for a few minutes daily as well as doing a gratitude journal app every morning and evening has also been helping!
Great thread!
What is an aspect of your life you want to reflect on?
How my past upbringing/trauma with family has influence my overthinking and anxious nature now. Sometimes I get anxious or I beat myself up over something little or I get concerned over how people may negatively think of my because of a decision I've made but then I have to remind myself that my judgements against myself may be stemmed from how I was brought up in my childhood
Share something that helps you reflect!
Talking to my partner or a friend helps me see other perspectives otherwise it gets really intense in my own head and I feel really uncomfortable. Otherwise, journalling and self soothing talk/meditation
Thanks for creating this @WheresMySquishy! 
- What is an aspect of your life you want to reflect on?
I would like to reflect on this year (the positives and negatives) to help inform my goals for the new year.
- Share something that helps you reflect!
Taking a bath and going for long walks 
I love this wellbeing activity @WheresMySquishy - and oh my goodness, I relate way too much to that poor little tiny hamster!
I've loved reading what everyone has written here and I think it's so important to take time prioritise some quiet reflection time.
I love your idea of having a list of reflection prompts! Do you keep that in a journal, or somewhere else?
For me, getting out into nature really helps me to still my mind from the everyday busy-ness and take some time to reflect. I love hiking, especially near the water, and have a lot of bushwalks that I'd like to do over the Xmas break. It's pretty rare for me to get time alone and I've realised that I really do need that time to re-set, so this year I want to prioritise getting up early a few days a week and going for a walk/ run to get that alone time and some clear headspace.
When that's not possible I also find doing mindfulness exercises to be really helpful- even if it's just weeding the garden mindfully, or doing the dishes mindfully! I did an 8 week mindfulness course a few years ago and it really helped me a lot.
@Janine-RO I started off by keeping the prompts in a journal, but recently I started making my own digital reflection templates! I have a five minute journal one, a weekly one, a 'review' one and ones to reflect about a thought I've had and whether I can reframe it.
I also did a mindfulness course this year @Janine-RO! It was made available online for free due to the pandemic. I really enjoyed it. 🙂
I love that @WheresMySquishy , such a proactive and intentional way of incorporating reflection into your every day life!
- my mental health and what I really want in my life, and how my previous negative experiences influence my choice
- Share something that helps you reflect
music, have a walk, and watching some movies that are relevant with life or psychology
What is an aspect of your life you want to reflect on?
I want to think about what's happened this year and what it means for my future. I want to reflect on whether I'm happy with the new direction my life is taking.
Share something that helps you reflect!
I love looking at pictures of nature and things I love. I also like listening to the sounds around me and ambient sounds.
Something that also helps me to reflect is picking up and touching an object and noticing how it feels in my hands. It helps me feel more grounded in the present. I don't really have a special object just for this purpose.
What is an aspect of your life you want to reflect on?
- I want to reflect on what i want out of life and my studies - academics is so important to me that sometimes, i make it my everything which can be really bad.
- Share something that helps you reflect!
- Music, poetry and journalling
- What is an aspect of your life you want to reflect on?
My career path- whether I should continue to study or start to prioritise working/earning money more
- Share something that helps you reflect!
Having a cup of tea and letting myself daydream
What is an aspect of your life you want to reflect on?
Mental wellbeing
Share something that helps you reflect
Journaling
