Closing the Loop: How developing a reflection process can help you meet your goals.
Reflection is a critical part of goal setting mastery. This post explores three key elements - reflecting on success, learning from setbacks, and bringing in gratitude. Each of which are key to helping us achieve that elusive sense of happiness and wellbeing we are all searching for.
We’ve explored lots of different aspects of intentional goal setting in this series:
As we wrap up, I want to focus on the crucial last step that powers sustainable progress: purposeful reflection. Learning to pause and record insights after goal completion – whether you succeed, struggle or land somewhere in between – builds resilient mindsets to keep nourishing your best life ahead.
What is Reflection and Why It Matters
Reflection simply means taking time to look back on recent experiences related to goals, intentions or behaviour change attempts. By asking yourself questions about what went well, what proved challenging, shifts noticed and lessons learned, you solidify new neural pathways. This builds self-awareness and emotional intelligence to apply to the next growth opportunities.
Studies confirm that reflective practices boost resilience after stressful events. Processing setbacks and highlighting incremental wins give you more clarity that can allow you to modify strategies if needed. You gather fuel for the next round.
👉 Just as muscles require recovery periods to rebuild stronger, reflection gives goal-setting minds essential integration time.
Reflecting and Celebrating Successes
When was the last time you truly savoured your successes? If you are like most, then you likely had a brief moment of recognition, before jumping ahead to the next goal on the horizon. We are so intrinsically wired to compare ourselves with others, that instead of noticing what we have achieved, we notice how others have achieved more. Whilst there is nothing wrong with this, it’s important that we take time to enjoy the success - it’s what lets us feel contentment.
So next time you achieve a goal, before you jump ahead to the next task, be sure to pause and reflect on the emotions swirling around successes too. Make space to appreciate feelings of pride in progress, relief of tension, renewed enthusiasm.
When you let positive experiences fully imprint, it energises through recollection later, especially when next tasks feel laborious. Reflection on wins builds important reservoirs of self-efficacy to tap into during inevitable dips.
👉 You start to develop greater insight into what lights you up - which you can draw on to craft better, more meaningful goals in the future.
Learning With Curiosity From Setbacks
Of course, despite best laid plans, many goals meet obstacles along the journey. Sudden change of health, family demands, world events or just lacking motivation all commonly derail us. It’s easiest to spiral into frustration and self-judgement when forced detours arise.
But reflection framed the right way defuses unhelpful blame and instead uncovers constructive adjustments. Look at what worked - and what didn't. Make small tweaks and trust that gradual progress still lies ahead.
👉Growth depends on understanding why you veered off course without harshness. Reflection is the tool that lets you build that insight in a kind way.
Gratitude: Fuel Your Goals Through Appreciation
Just as reflecting on wins deserves emphasis to sustain drive, regularly highlighting gratitude grounds optimism on a daily basis. Don’t underestimate the power of celebrating little goal milestones through thankfulness. This doesn’t have to be a big process, and it isn’t all about the woo. Instead it can simply look like a gentle thought at the end of the day to appreciate health that permits activity, resources that allow access, or kind friends and family who lend support.
In addition it can help to look within and be grateful for your inner resources and strength - this could be courage to try hard things, creativity to come up with new solutions, or having a growth mindset to be willing to learn from setbacks. Thank yourself for showing up even on hard days.
👉This simple gratitude habit reminds our nervous systems of the many things in our lives that we appreciate right now - instead of living solely for a future point when we have achieved our goal.
Wellbeing Goals: A Lifelong Iterative Process
Stepping back, realise well being depends on fluidly evolving goals across the years. It isn’t static. It’s a bit like the spinning plates in the circus - you have to keep circling back around and giving them some love and support. As interests change, our bodies age, society shifts, new priorities emerge. Let reflection guide modifications that are aligned to who you are becoming, not rigid ideas of achievement.
Check if certain goals originate more from what “society” says you should value, rather than what you truly want. Notice where apathy hints it’s time to release outdated metrics. This is the true power of reflection in the goal setting cycle - it helps us clarify our goals and ensure we are living the life we want - not the path others have set out for us.
In closing this goal setting series, take stock through reflection of all you’ve gathered so far. Then make space for the next aspirations - because your best life beckons. The adventure continues...
If you are feeling a bit overwhelmed with all of this, then perhaps a coaching session or two might help. I offer a free insight call which we can use to get clear on your wellbeing goals, and help you identify next steps.
