Reflection

When I first started putting together my wellbeing A–Z list, reflection wasn’t on it. It wasn’t something I had consciously considered. But in hindsight, my brain had been quietly doing it all along, nudging me down new, nurturing paths, helping me notice things I hadn’t put into words yet.

It wasn’t until I began my coaching course that the power of reflection truly hit home. On day one, it was introduced as a core part of the learning process and I was sold immediately. Not because I had fully grasped it, but because I felt its impact straight away.

That first day of the course wobbled me. As soon as my husband picked me up and asked how it had gone, I burst into tears. I felt overwhelmed. Every part of me was screaming to run away. And historically, that’s exactly what I would have done.

So what stopped me this time?

Honestly, a mix of stubbornness and longing. I really wanted this qualification. I wanted to be there. I just didn’t know why I was feeling so shaken when this was something I’d chosen wholeheartedly.

That’s when reflection stepped in.

The course leaders offered prompts, thoughtful questions, gentle nudges to help us explore our reactions. They created protected space for us to reflect, something I’d rarely given myself before. Usually, I’d feel something in my gut and just act on it, no pause, no process.

But sitting with my discomfort that day, guided by reflection, was powerful. I began to understand what was going on beneath the tears. I joined the dots between past patterns and present fears. It was gold.

I’d kept journals before, but this felt different. This wasn’t writing at the end of the day when everything had faded slightly, this was reflecting in the moment, when thoughts were raw and real and right there to be explored.

Since then, I’ve made reflection a core part of my life. I actively carve out time to reflect after every coaching session. I don’t leave it to chance. My journaling still exists, but it’s evolved, it’s freer, less rigid, and deeply personal. Reflection, for me, isn’t about structure; it’s about presence.

And that’s the thing, when we catch ourselves in those moments of heightened emotion or discomfort, reflection can become a tool of clarity. It helps us understand not just what we’re feeling, but why. It gives us the chance to choose our response, rather than simply react.

So no, reflection wasn’t originally on my wellbeing list. But I now see it as one of the most important letters in the whole alphabet, which may be very evident when you’re reading my other sections! This section is here to explore it.