The Power of a Simple Question

Over the past few months, I’ve taken a break from social media, both contributing and consuming. It was for no other reason than I was mostly tired of it all. Exhausted by the idea of “always having something to share” and even more exhausted by reading so many things that I concluded were not adding value to my life. I’ve learned that a break from anything can open up time for thought in general. And while I did have some hopeful aspirations that taking a break would lead me to a new or fresh enlightenment, it mostly led me back to a core lesson I published just a few years ago.

The value of reflection.

When you make time to reflect, consistently and more specifically, daily, you open yourself up to all the things: emotions, ideas for action, considerations, and more.

And for those of you who are not familiar with this lesson, it all started with a daily ritual between my dad and me. Every evening, as I drove home from work, I'd call him. He'd answer with a formal, "John Monson speaking," despite knowing full well it was me. My response? "Oh, Dad, you know it’s me."

The Heart of Our Conversations

After our initial exchange, he'd ask, "What did you do for the good of the community today, kid?" This wasn't just small talk. It was his way of encouraging me to pause and think about my day, not just the tasks I completed but the impact I had. Some days, I'd share successes or challenges from work, while other days, I might admit I didn't accomplish much. No matter what, he listened and often helped me see the value in even the smallest actions.

Why Reflection Matters

At first, I didn't grasp the full importance of these conversations. But over time, I've come to understand their value. Reflecting on our day helps us appreciate our achievements, learn from our setbacks, and recognize our growth. It's a moment to pause and consider our actions and their ripple effects.

And it’s not just me saying it; there's research that supports the benefits of this kind of reflection. A study published in Management Science by Di Stefano and colleagues found that individuals who reflect on their experiences perform better in the long run. The researchers conducted experiments where participants were divided into groups, with some being asked to spend time reflecting on the tasks they had completed, while others did not. The results showed that individuals who engaged in reflection performed significantly better on subsequent tasks than those who did not reflect, thus the study argues that reflection helps us process and learn from our actions, leading to improved performance and personal growth.

Reference: Di Stefano, G., Gino, F., Pisano, G., & Staats, B. R. (2014). Learning by Thinking: How Reflection Aids Performance. Management Science, 60(11), 3049–3069.

Moving Forward

This research and my own experiences have convinced me of the power of daily reflection. It's not just about self-improvement; it's about understanding our place in the world and how we can contribute to it.

So, how do we find time for reflection?