Self Reflection Questions for When You Need A Moment of Clarity
By Janavi Chawla
December 21, 2018 • Fact checked by Dumb Little Man
Have you ever had one of those moments where you feel like your life has become stagnant and nothing seems to be working out? You are not able to create anything you’d like to accomplish and just feel absolutely useless?
Yes! I am talking about that self-appreciation phase where you love the concept of self-doubt and self-loathing. Well, one thing is for sure, you are not alone.
Around two years back, I met these super talented bunch of musicians when I joined my new school who I now refer to as my friends. Initially, I was absolutely in awe of each one of them. The fact that I am a self-entitled car singer might have had a small role to play. Well, just a tiny one.
We used to sit in a group and have our own little concert. And it was so much fun until… it wasn’t!
On one hand, I was having a Gala time and on the flip side, I was questioning myself. And believe me, these weren’t the questions that would’ve brought me any awareness. They were full of self-doubt, judgment, and conclusion — and not a very good one at that.
I was doing the job of being a teenager very well.
I used to ask myself one question:
What is my talent?
It seemed like a question, but it wasn’t. It was a judgmental statement about myself with a question mark at the end to help myself feel better about introspecting rather than concluding. Since that wasn’t enough to satisfy the quota of self-deprecation, I added a more fixed point of views to it.
I concluded that particular talent is only a talent when it can be shown to other people.
After a couple of days, I decided that I’ve had enough of this crappy feeling and I wasn’t going to choose it anymore! So, I looked for the answers from people who knew me. Obviously, people knew me better than I knew myself.
After getting answers like you’re good at art, speaking, giving advice, I finally did what I should’ve done since the beginning. I asked myself what talents I have that I have not acknowledged yet. I wondered what secret hidden talents I have that I’m not even aware of.
We often come across self-reflection questions like “What is the purpose of our life?”, “What am I good at?” or “What is my worth?”
When that happens to you, consider the following tips:
1) Ask And Introspect
Instead of going through all the process that I went through, please choose to ask yourself questions because no one knows you better than you. Just asking a simple question can give you an awareness or an insight. Personally, what I used to do was ask a question with an expected outcome or conclusion.
Moreover, it does not always show up the way you expect it to. Don’t run away when it doesn’t look like the way you imagined it to be.
2) Acknowledge And Be Grateful
Most of the time, we don’t acknowledge the changes that we’ve created in our lives. Why?
You would know if this applies to you. However, let me tell you how one of my favorite people in the world taught me what acknowledgment does.
It truly opens the space of gratefulness for our capacities and eliminates the space of judgment for ourselves. The fun fact is that we don’t always choose gratefulness.
Is now the time for you to acknowledge and be grateful for yourself?
If yes, please take out a few minutes of your day to acknowledge the things in your life. One of the most recommended ways to practice this is to maintain a gratitude journal. If keeping one seems like a pain in the neck, write your thoughts anywhere. If you don’t have the time to note them down, just tell yourself mentally.
3) Have Fun
Last but not the least, don’t expect too much out of yourself. Try out new things and enjoy them. I know that sounds tough but it isn’t!
How much fun can you have?