Do you set aside time to reflect on things?

Ronni

Ronni

Well-known Member
Location
Nashville TN
Something one of our members said in a recent post gave me pause, so I thought I'd throw it out here for discussion.

Do you set aside specific times to reflect on things.....the past, a decision you need to make, some issue or concern, an outcome expected or not, plans for the future...whatever it might be. Do you decide "I'll think about this at X time" or make a conscious choice as to when you'll pause to reflect on that thing?

I'm asking because I don't do that. I don't know if that's just me and I'm the weird one, or if most do what I do, and just think about things as those thoughts arrive. My thinking isn't particularly chaotic, but neither is my mind a blank. I just go on about my day, sometimes very specifically directing my thoughts to what I'm doing if that's needed, but other times my mind just roams wherever it roams. Currently my head is filled with Christmas things, but even now at my most favorite time and also my busiest time personally and professionally, I still don't lay claim to any particular direction that my thoughts take.

Sometimes, If I have some issue or problem I'm dealing with and those thoughts keep intruding into what I'm trying to direct my attention to, I'll decide "No, I won't think about that now" and I'll sort of re-direct my thinking so that I can fully focus on what I'm doing. But even then I'm sometimes only partially successful.

I could go on with examples, but I think you get the idea by now. What about you? Do you set aside time to reflect on things, or are you more like me, and those thoughts just come whenever?
 

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Nope, they usually creep in when I'm on a long drive, a walk, preparing meals, cleaning the bathtub, just before I go to sleep, etc...
 

All my deep thinking, brilliant ideas, problems solved and decisions made seem to happen while I'm sitting on the toilet.
 
You sound a bit like me Ronni. With me I have plenty of time to think and ponder between getting on with my life.
I do focus well on practical matters that need attention short or long term as if I dont things would slip into disarray.

I am a procrastinator and plan all sorts of plans some small some grand. I tend to do a Scarlet O'Hara who told herself in Gone With The Wind "I will do it tomorrrow tomorrow is another day" or words to that effect.
 
The shop is my place for refuge...and clear thinking
Whenever something profound emerges from my skull, I'll write it on a little pad, and continue butchering wood

Music helps
Particularly, LED ZEPPLIN

They get me moving (not a good vision for others, but it gets the blood flowing)

me in shop.jpg2.jpg

me in shop.jpg
 
No I never plan on reflective time. Doing yoga is somewhat meditative but walking even more so.
Oddly enough things in my mind get worked out while walking than any other time which is another reason why I like it so. Itā€™s a perfect opportunity to be alone with my own thoughts. Itā€™s reflective time that Iā€™ve grown to NEED!

And unlike Gary, I donā€™t have my own workshop but I do enjoy woodworking and wood carving. Focussing all my attention on DOING instead of thinking is a welcome contrast which helps keep me somewhat sane. šŸ™ƒ
 
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Much of my reflecting (but not all) happens while I'm trying to sleep at night and then I try to turn it off, getting better at it, too..lol :unsure: ;):cool: I don't set specific times for reflecting, though, as it happens when it happens with me. If that makes any sense..:unsure:
 
It comes and goes and a lot of it happens during the night which is why I can't get to sleep. I also worry a lot. The only time my mind is at rest is when I'm working on my many projects. I found my new sewing machine to be very relaxing. I stay totally focused on what I'm doing.

My metal detecting also relaxes me. My mind goes completely blank. A nice rest for the old brain. My cousin says fishing does it for him also.
 
I "reflect" occasionally on things I've done that worked out well, and even mistakes I've made, so I don't repeat them. I don't set aside any specific times to reflect...it just comes and goes as various events unfold.
 
Ruthanne said:
Much of my reflecting (but not all) happens while I'm trying to sleep at night and then I try to turn it off, getting better at it, too..lol :unsure: ;):cool: I don't set specific times for reflecting, though, as it happens when it happens with me. If that makes any sense..:unsure:
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same here ruthanne....alway when i go to bed....its the only time i get !!
 
I don't set aside a specific time to reflect on anything. I don't think our brains are setup to work that way.

During moments of quiet, I will find myself reflecting on something. Having a dog or cat in my lap always adds considerable clarity.
 
Oh ya, Sure! Every week I sit down with my "Sailor Jerry" rum & coke & figure things out. I think about life a lot. I have planned some great trips, like 5 months backpacking through East, South & Southwest Africa while sipping a nice cool rum. I think that more people should sip rum or a nice glass of wine. There would be less wars, less strive & much more happiness. Hey, I said a glass or two. I did not say all night drunks! By the way, when you do this you need a nice woman to talk to about your plans. Sitting in front of the TV & watching "The Big Game" ain't gonna do it brother/sister!
 
I seriously enjoy living in past Christmases when my mom and dad were alive and we were our family. Those were ā€œtheeā€ best of times. Having my own family, we have made several very good memories of Christmases, but none will ever surpass those earlier.
 
Yes I do. I call it mindful problem solving and when I do this I solve problems more easily than I would if I just let random thoughts and troubles crowd my brain whenever they feel like it.
 
I don't need to set aside time for reflection.....I seem to have a natural propensity for reflection and dwelling on the past. I deliberately "disconnect" the reflection mode in order to get on with the current issues mode.
 
I have a good think about stuff in general when iam in bed - mainly as I dont sleep straight away...but iam not a dweller....
 
I think about my wife and friends who died in vietnam everyday, when I got home from the hospital in 1971, I was never able to get a restful sleep again, I have been married to my present wife for 47 years now, we don't talk about my first wife, I've had a hard time being happy, and having contentment , I walk everyday, and I go in my room listen to music, I'm doing a lot better than a lot of Veterans my age.
 
If reflection is required, I do it as I go along.

If I had a specific time set aside for it, I would probably forget about it or put it off and then would have to both reflect and feel guilty about being late doing it thereby creating a stressful situation that would require even more reflection.
 
gennie said:
If reflection is required, I do it as I go along.

If I had a specific time set aside for it, I would probably forget about it or put it off and then would have to both reflect and feel guilty about being late doing it thereby creating a stressful situation that would require even more reflection.
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Wow, think I understand what I thought I knew you said...lol!
 

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