All of us want to delve deeper to better understand who we are and what we want out of life. We are all looking to “find” and “define” ourselves.
It’s easy to get caught up in the world around us and to get bogged down by daily stressors. Doing this can create a negative cycle that causes us to lose ourselves…until one day, we wake up and don’t know the person looking back at us in the mirror.
People who constantly look at who they are in a positive reflection and introspection can live happier, less stressed lives.
In this article, we give you a list of questions to help you reflect on where you are today versus where you would like to be in the future.
Ask Questions
There are five key areas of life to evaluate: career, community, relationships, health, and fulfillment. We’ve split up these questions into three sections: past you, present you, and future growth.
We recommend reflecting on one area per day for the next seven days. This will help you slowly and methodically come to a deeper understanding of yourself without feeling overwhelmed.
As you go through these thought-provoking questions, let your mind wander. Jot your thoughts down in a journal. Don’t worry about form or clarity, just write whatever comes to mind. This will help you keep a record of your development moving forward.
You may start to ponder these questions over the next week. In fact, you may find that you start to come to surprising realizations at unexpected parts of the day even when you aren’t actively reflecting.
Day 1: Career
- What is my goal for the next five years?
- What is my lifelong dream?
- What am I doing today to work towards my long-term goals?
- Do I feel financially stable?
- What do I need to do to feel more secure in my finances and career?
- How do I prioritize my work-life balance?
Day 2: Health
- Do I give myself time for fun?
- Do I eat right?
- Do I get enough sleep?
- How often do I feel stressed?
- What can I do differently today to improve the wellness of my life?
- When was the last time I learned something new?
Day 3: Community
- How do I make other people happy?
- How do I add value to others around me?
- What small acts of kindness can I do every day?
- Am I a good example for those around me?
- Is it more important to love or be loved?
Day 4: Relationships
- Who do I look to for advice?
- Where do I look for support?
- Who do I look to for a good time?
- What kinds of relationships do I foster the most? Why?
- Who has had the greatest impact on my life?
- Who inspires me the most? Why?
- Who are the people who believe in me?
Day 5: Fulfillment – Past
- Am I holding on to negative feelings from the past?
- How can I let go of these negative feelings?
- What is my greatest accomplishment? Why?
- What is my greatest regret? Why?
- What advice would I give my younger self?
Day 6: Fulfillment – Present
- When do I smile the most?
- What makes me happy, passionate, and excited?
- What is my best quality, according to my friends?
- What is my best quality, according to me?
- Am I comfortable with who I am?
- What emotions do I feel most often? Are they positive or negative?
- What am I most scared of? How can I overcome this fear?
- What am I grateful for?
- Do I treat myself with love and respect?
- Am I a better person today than I was yesterday?
- Am I living the life I want to be living?
Day 7: Fulfillment – Future
- How can I work to improve myself?
- What is my greatest goal in life?
- Am I on the right path towards my future?
After you’ve finished these questions make sure to take time for yourself. Do something that makes you happy.
The Bottom Line
Ultimately, your reflection should help you answer the following question:
- What can I do today to be a better version of myself tomorrow?
Think of this reflection as a redirection- you don’t need to have all the answers. Simply acknowledging who you are is the first step towards growth.