Okay, so today I wanted to get into reflective writing. I’ve heard it’s, like, super helpful for processing stuff and learning from experiences, so I figured, why not give it a shot? I grabbed my favorite notebook and a pen – gotta have the right tools, you know?
Getting Started
First, I thought about what to even write about. It felt kinda weird at first, just staring at a blank page. I decided to pick something simple: a recent argument I had with my friend, Sarah. It wasn’t a huge fight or anything, but it left me feeling kinda crummy, and I wanted to figure out why.
Diving In
I started by just free-writing about the argument. I wrote down everything I could remember: what she said, what I said, how I felt at the time. I didn’t worry about grammar or making it sound perfect, I just let it all out. It was kinda messy, but it felt good to get it all on paper.
- I described the setting: We were at that little coffee shop we always go to.
- I recalled the exact words we used, as best as I could. It’s surprising how much you forget!
- I jotted down my immediate reactions: I felt defensive, then angry, then just…sad.
Digging Deeper
After I dumped all my initial thoughts, I went back and started asking myself “why.” Why did I react that way? Why did her words sting so much? This was the hard part. It’s easy to describe what happened, but harder to figure out the underlying reasons.
I realized, as I wrote, that part of my reaction was because Sarah’s comments hit a nerve. They touched on something I’m already insecure about. It wasn’t really about what she said, but about my own baggage, I guess.
Making Connections
Then I tried to connect this specific situation to other times I’ve felt similar emotions. I remembered a few other arguments, even going back to high school, where I had similar reactions. Whoa. It was like a pattern was emerging.
The “Aha!” Moment
The coolest part was when I figured out something new about myself. I realized I tend to shut down when I feel criticized, even if the criticism is meant to be helpful. I wrote about how this realization made me feel, which was surprisingly…relieved. It’s like I unlocked a little piece of myself.
I finished by writing a few sentences about what I learned and what i can try differently with my action next time, that i can try differently.
I think I’ll keep doing this reflective writing thing. It’s kinda like having a conversation with myself, but on paper. It’s definitely not as easy as it looks, but it feels worthwhile. And all i need just my time, paper and pan.
