Happiness From The Mind: How Can One Reflect Happiness

Humans are distinguished from animals by their ability to analyse events and feelings that have occurred in the context of their surroundings. We figure out how to do it correctly with the help of an expert in order to benefit ourselves and avoid depression.

We look at common blunders in reflection, as well as life hacks and rules for productive self-awareness.

1. What is reflection
2. What is it for
3. Types of reflection
4. Mistakes to Avoid
5. How to reflect correctly

What exactly is reflection?

The ability to deliberately pay attention to one's thoughts, feelings, and conduct in order to analyse decisions and prospects is referred to as reflection.

The phrase derives from the Latin word "reflectio," which means "reflection." This involves focusing on oneself, rethinking, and analysing.

A person switches his attention from the outside to his feelings, his own "I," and rethinks what is going on. Socrates saw introspection as a simple approach to learn about and improve oneself.

For example, whereas in the cognitive-behavioral approach, reflection, attention to one's own thought processes, their assessment, and reevaluation are one of the main pillars of the therapeutic process, in psychoanalysis, reflection plays an auxiliary role and is used by the therapist in working with material that other, non-reflective methods ".

What is the purpose of reflection?

Self-reflection aids in the identification of true wants. Oliver Schultheis of the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg in Germany demonstrated that when conscious aims match with unconscious motives, a person feels happy [1]. Furthermore, the reflection process enables you to:

• control your thinking;

• assess the validity and consistency of behaviours, as well as examine thoughts.

• transform hidden skills into useful development tools;

• eliminate indecision and make a decision;

• purge your head of unwanted thoughts;

• recognise and modify behavioural patterns

for example, the night before you go to bed, you reflect on how your morning meeting triggered leftover anger and harmed your relationships with family members. by mentally going over the events of the day, you can identify the source of your negative mood and look for strategies to avoid it in the future. alternatively, instead of immediately returning to work after a difficult meeting, schedule time to rest.ls

Most people are prone to self-reflection, and it helps to form conclusions to limit potential psychiatric harm. This approach can protect us from making bad decisions and help us to make better ones. Excessive introspection can stifle development and require a significant amount of time and effort. It would be fantastic to be able to understand a situation and develop conclusions in real time. However, most people understand the scenario after the fact, rather than in the moment. The key to being present in the moment is to cultivate the habit of analysing what is going on, to develop reflection as a muscle that can be used at any time.

Different types of reflection

In psychology, reflection is classified into the following species, each with its own set of characteristics:

1. Personal introspection. The object of cognition in this case is the person's personality. He assesses himself, his abilities, habits, the attitudes of those around him, and his ideas about the world and other people.

2. Reflective communication Critical evaluation of acts and reactions, as well as knowledge of others This is how you gain an objective understanding of the social interaction mechanisms.

3. Intellectual introspection It is engaged during the process of contemplating a problem that necessitates reflection. The individual returns to the beginning conditions and mentally scrolls over the rational choices for solving the problem, much like a mathematical calculation.

Reflection is also classified as situational (an study of what is currently happening), prospective (thoughts about the future), and retrospective (looking into the past). Furthermore, the following kinds can be distinguished:

• Social introspection. Not thinking about people, but acting on their behalf. It is also known as "inner betrayal." A person puts himself in the shoes of another person and tries to comprehend what he is thinking and why he is acting the way he is.

• Scientific analysis. Used in the examination and research of cognition approaches. This is how theories, laws governing the operation of diverse processes, instruments, points of view, and justifications emerge.

Whatever the reflection, it operates on the same algorithm, which is fundamentally similar to the processes of self-knowledge. This skill can be developed and improved by anyone.

Avoidable Errors

Positive viewpoints and personal improvement are related with reflection as a therapeutic strategy of introspection. But not everything is so straightforward. Researchers ran an experiment with reflective students and discovered that they have a poor level of psychological well-being .A psychologist, argues that the problem is not with the procedure itself, but with people's inability to approach it correctly . The reflexive person frequently falls into philosophy and focuses on the question “why?”, but it is worthwhile to ask himself “what?”: “What happened? How do I feel? "What can I do to make things simpler for myself and to prevent this from happening again?"

Studies back up this theory: in one, students were instructed to reflect on the results of a failed exam . Those who focused their thoughts on the question "why did this happen?" Focused on their shortcomings, disciplinary issues, and lack of understanding, they became depressed the next day. Identifying what to do is always more effective than determining who is to blame. Doctors refer to this as "destructive reflection." It is present in persons who have a high level of self-criticism, which is common in patients with neuroses who are prone to incessant scrutiny of their ideas and actions.

Consider the following scenario: you have missed a project deadline at work. You may succumb to self-delusion, conceding failure and your own incompetence to manage time and focus. To conclude that you are incompetent, or that genetics are to blame, because Grandpa was always late everywhere. Such introspection will result in a decadent attitude and a lack of enthusiasm for future accomplishments. Now attempt to focus your thoughts on efficiency. Consider how you might better schedule your work; perhaps it is worthwhile to address with your manager an overload of jobs that are difficult to do in a timely manner. Someone will conclude that it is worthwhile to investigate Others will find ways to communicate their desires to others, strengthening their communication skills..

How to Correctly Reflect

In order for the process of self-reflection to be beneficial and constructive, many rules must be followed in addition to asking the question:

1. Make it a habit to analyse unexpected events. Evaluate the events that are taking place, even if it takes a long time at first, which will have to be committed to reflection, even if it is a few hours or days after the events have occurred.

2. Try to recall the events of the day before going to bed each night. Pay attention to your sensations and emotions: in what situations did you feel uncomfortable, irritated, angry, or insecure?

3. Try to think objectively: look at the problem from the outside, not as an internal critic.

4. Examine your attitude toward other people. Anxiety can be triggered by new acquaintances, for example. What becomes the trigger that sets off the negative emotion mechanism?

5. Do not avoid communicating with people whose opinions differ from yours. In an attempt to comprehend a different view of the world, you activate reflection, which allows you to look at what is going on in a new light and revise patterns and preconceptions.

6. Learn to perceive the problem from multiple perspectives: emphasise not just the negatives, but also the positives of your situation, and seek for chances that arise as a result of new knowledge and sentiments.