{"id":5460,"date":"2024-12-11T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-12-11T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/co-creation.group\/?p=5460"},"modified":"2024-12-11T22:17:34","modified_gmt":"2024-12-11T22:17:34","slug":"why-reflection-feels-uncomfortable","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/co-creation.group\/why-reflection-feels-uncomfortable\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Reflection Feels Uncomfortable (and How to Get Better at It)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”15px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Taking a moment to reflect on the art of Reflecting – it’s harder than you think. Why is celebrating our own success so uncomfortable?” _builder_version=”4.27.3″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_font=”||||||||” header_2_font_size=”24px” custom_margin=”||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]

Taking a moment to reflect on the art of Reflecting – it’s harder than you think. Why is celebrating our own success so uncomfortable?<\/p>\n

So, this isn’t a blog about 2024 coming to a close and how we set ourselves up to bring in the new year with gusto and positivity \u2013 it’s far too early for that!<\/p>\n

It is more around recognising that celebrating success can often feel very uncomfortable for many reasons, but we have to get better at doing it, and doing it more often and for no other reason than it makes us feel good.<\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”4px|auto||auto||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Understanding Generational Dynamics in Today\u2019s Workforce” _builder_version=”4.27.3″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_font=”||||||||” header_2_font_size=”24px” custom_margin=”||22px|||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]

Why Is Reflection So Uncomfortable?<\/h2>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”At a recent strategy session with the Co-Creation team one of the first exercises we threw ourselves into was to contribute one thing we were proud of achieving in 2024.” _builder_version=”4.27.3″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_font=”||||||||” header_2_font_size=”24px” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]

At a recent strategy session with the Co-Creation team one of the first exercises we threw ourselves into was to contribute one thing we were proud of achieving in 2024.<\/p>\n

A room full of experienced coaches and successful business leaders who are trained to do this professionally and who build this into programmes we design and deliver every day \u2013 this should be easy \u2013 right??<\/p>\n

Oh, how wrong were we!<\/p>\n

We sat around a table, and all looked extremely uncomfortable even though we had been asked to reflect ahead of the session, come prepared to share and amongst a group of like-minded individuals where familiarity, friendship bonds and psychological safety are in abundance.<\/p>\n

It led me to think (Yes \u2013 reflect \u2013 really hard for quite a while) about why this was, but also how perhaps we all need to talk the talk and walk the walk more in our own practice.<\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”4px|auto||auto||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”What We Learned From Our Session” _builder_version=”4.27.3″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_font=”||||||||” header_2_font_size=”24px” custom_margin=”||22px|||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]

What We Learned From Our Session<\/h2>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”This goes way beyond being grateful and showing gratitude \u2013 something I do a lot to help with my mental wellbeing and resilience.” _builder_version=”4.27.3″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_font=”||||||||” header_2_font_size=”24px” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]

This goes way beyond being grateful and showing gratitude \u2013 something I do a lot to help with my mental wellbeing and resilience.<\/p>\n

We all sat \u2013 for quite a while \u2013 with our thinking faces on. Who was going to share first, and what would they talk about? There was tension in the air as we all looked around the room.<\/p>\n

Once we verbalised that we were struggling and got comfortable with the uncomfortable, took the pressure off us all having to share a long list of achievements \u2013 reminding ourselves that it’s quality over quantity \u2013 allowed ourselves the time to think without any pressure, to start writing and see where our thoughts took us, without judgement, fear, opinions, self-doubt getting in the way – we came to an important realisation \u2013 that for most of us it has been a year of challenges, but out of that always comes growth \u2013 personally and professionally.<\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”4px|auto||auto||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Why Is It So Hard to Share Our Achievements?” _builder_version=”4.27.3″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_font=”||||||||” header_2_font_size=”24px” custom_margin=”||22px|||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]

Why Is It So Hard to Share Our Achievements?<\/h2>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”So why was reflecting and sharing our achievements, what we are proud of designing\/delivering for our clients, the impact we make, and the difference to people’s lives we contribute so hard?” _builder_version=”4.27.3″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_font=”||||||||” header_2_font_size=”24px” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]

So why was reflecting and sharing our achievements, what we are proud of designing\/delivering for our clients, the impact we make, and the difference to people’s lives we contribute so hard?<\/p>\n

We inherently don’t like talking about our achievements \u2013 is it blowing our own trumpet, shouting a bit too loud, “hey, look at me and what I have done”, shining the light on ourselves when we prefer to let others take the limelight? Or is it that we don’t do it enough and therefore need more practice, creating safer places in teams and moments of recognition, celebration, and reflection?<\/p>\n

So what’s next\u2026?<\/p>\n

As a result of our session, our action was to set up a Gratitude channel on our WhatsApp group \u2013 a small step and one that we all committed to. Building in a healthy habit of sharing on a regular basis all that’s great about ourselves and the work we do, individual and team achievements and encouraging each other to do so too.<\/p>\n

We also need to recognise that when we ask our clients to do this \u2013 they will be going through the same emotions. How do you set up a reflection session for success?<\/em><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”4px|auto||auto||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Top Tips for Effective Reflection” _builder_version=”4.27.3″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_font=”||||||||” header_2_font_size=”24px” custom_margin=”||22px|||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]

Top Tips for Effective Reflection<\/h2>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Imagine this: a project team with a Gen Z leader who\u2019s full of creative ideas…” _builder_version=”4.27.3″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_font=”||||||||” header_2_font_size=”24px” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]