Second Step: Reflect! Reflect! Reflect!
Knowing who we are is a basic element to give us a brief idea of self-monitoring. However, we need to keep reflecting or asking ourselves what we learned from the last event, so the refreshing knowledge will keep in the mind and imply to the next action.
1. Ask: Why should I do it?
Every action we apply should be promote the independent and responsible theme to maintain our independence and self-esteem at a high level. From each reflection, summarize and analyze the reason why we make that action in order to increase coping ability when facing other events. In addition, during the reflection, we can come up the appropriate and efficient behaviors in case the similar things happen again, so the productivity and self-awareness will increase.
2. Ask: When should I do it?
Reflection should happen routinely because every day we face different people and solve various problems. To be specific, we should reflect when our action is impulse control. For example, when the atmosphere between someone else and us is intense, our first reaction is not to find a way to solve the problem instead our behavior causes the more serious conflict. At this time, we should calm down and reflect our actions.
3. Ask: How do I do it?
There are many ways to keep the reflecting which help to implement self-monitoring system.
- Analyze the indicators, find out the trigger that makes our action impulse
- Mark down the event and cues that could define our behavior
- Find the similarities between different events and make an appropriate reaction
- Make a self-monitoring checklist
- Set a score scale for the action
- Set a SMART goal of for behavior
- Think before act
- Keep reflecting on the daily basis
“By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.”
— Confucius
