When life forces you to re-evaluate
At a time when it seems much of our external world has been indefinitely paused, taking time to re-calibrate in this new normal can be a daunting yet essential act.
Photography: Lucie Marsmann
Introspection is a great and sometimes necessary thing to practice, but it’s not always easy. It requires taking a moment to pause and take stock of our current situations in a way that brings honest evaluation. It opens the door for positive adjustments where needed and ultimately can be a growing exercise, however finding time to do this in a world that thrives on being fast-paced is easier said than done.
I’ve found that personally when I feel everything in my life is going smoothly and working out I don’t often see the need to re-assess where my focus and energy lies. It’s only when my circumstance is disrupted that I find myself actively reflecting. When this does happen there are a few things I try to do in order to make the most of my time and gain a fresh viewpoint on not only my actions thus far but what I want them to look like going forward.
Prioritise what’s important
When we think about our time we’d like to believe we spend it on the things we consider most important, however sometimes we can allow the lesser things to take up more space while the things we should focus on end up falling to the side-lines. Ideally, we want to try and align our actions with the things that bring us happiness and hold the most weight in our hearts, and there’s a simple activity we can do to try and put this into practice.
Make a list of where you would say most of your time and energy is spent during a normal working week, this can be things like volunteering with your church, a gym class you attend regularly, social events with work and whatever else fits for you personally. Next, make a second list of things in life that are important to you such as your relationships, aspirations (promotions, fitness goals etc) and your religion for example. Now compare the two lists and see how much crossover you find. If excelling in your field of work appears on the important list is this reflected in the time/energy list for your week?
In a perfect world the lists would line up pretty clearly and we’d be able to spend energy doing only things that bring us happiness, but I know from experience this isn’t the case. Distractions come up and we may spend more time and energy doing things that we don’t love but are necessary. Even when that is the case we can use the two lists as a reference point to try and actively line up our actions with the things we want to prioritise where possible. This will look different for each of us individually but ultimately it will help us hone in on specific areas that we need to feed both now and beyond this season.
“Introspection is great but it’s not always easy.”
Set goals: big or small.
For some people motivation comes easy, they know what they want, how to get there and how long it may take a while for others this may not be the case. Setting goals that we can review regularly can help us direct and manage our time efficiently, particularly if we find our circumstances have recently changed.
We can specify things we want to achieve, whether this be on a daily basis or over a longer period and, rather than pressure ourselves to achieve them perfectly we can simply let them become a pathway of sorts that directs our actions. Maybe this means taking up a new skill or hobby and setting regular targets to achieve within a specific time period. Or perhaps it’s committing to a new saving schedule each month in preparation for future financial investments.
Whatever it may be, the importance doesn’t lie in our success but in the structure that comes when we set realistic objectives and strive towards them.
“It won’t always look like a big upheaval or life change.”
Be honest and intentional
As we look ahead and plan for the future we must first be open and honest about our current situation, looking for constructive ways to improve and thrive that won’t compromise our wellbeing. This may not always look like a big upheaval or life change and in fact, more often a time of reflection and re-assessment doesn’t always bring obvious external changes, but what it does bring is a refreshed mindset.
Self-improvement and success can begin from within ourselves and when we choose to be intentional with our introspection we welcome the opportunity for growth.
WORDS BY
Natasha Chisabingo
