Joy of Reflecting

 

    Reflecting on your life can help you see your mistakes, highlights, and events more clearly.  It is a skill that can produce joy if used correctly.  Reflect on aspect while in solitude and prayer to create spiritual growth and develop wisdom.  When used correctly it can provide joy.

    Reflection is looking back at your past and glancing back to grab important life lessons to help you with current situations and better choices in the future.  Are you willing to question the choices you have made in life and how they have brought you to where you are right now?  The only reason to look back is to learn from your errors.  Do not obsess, go to self pity, or beat yourself up.  The past is over and you can't change it, but you can learn from it.

    Reflection used wisely creates a written plan of change.  It will help you from repeating the same mistakes, going on auto pilot, or becoming idle in your growth.  It will help you avoid blind spots in your life, missed opportunities for breakthrough, or being the victim of your life.  Do not wait for tragedy, crisis, or some other emotional event to reflect.  Be proactive with your life.

    A reflection journal adds accountability to your life.  It is where you can declare you will fix a problem that you see with wisdom, improvement plan, and it reduces stress.  When journaling write what you are working on yourself.  Ask God to highlight situations, relationships, and things to work on specifically.  This can help you discover joyful elements.  

    Next, record what is not working to keep from staying stagnant.  This is the area that removes joys from your life, but it needs to be honestly assessed to get back to joy.  You can't correct behaviors until you can see them as the problem.  

    Lastly journal about what you want or need to improve.  This is your feedback that leads to action.  Pray that God provides sensitivity to see a clear path to His will.  You can change or modify the plan accordingly.  It is not set in stone.  It is just meant to be a map to help you discover joy in your life.  The key is taking the time to listen to God.  

Psalm 118:22-29, Zephaniah 3:14-17, John 15:9-17, 2 Corinthians 3:16-18, Ephesians 3:14-19, & Philippians 4:4-5