Personal reflection needs to be used frequently to consider what is going well and what can be improved. During my junior year I realized that I do not use personal reflection very often and when I do it is only focused on the negative side. Personal reflection is not meant to be negative, rather, it is meant to be constructive, helpful, and forward focused. One is never meant to beat themselves up for mistakes that have occurred in the past. Mistakes are meant to be learning opportunities. If reflection is not used to constructively consider mistakes in order to find ways to improve and prevent reoccurrence, then the beautiful opportunity offered by a mistake is lost and the mistake becomes pointless. Since I had this realization, I have worked to incorporate more personal reflection into the various aspects of my life and I continue to work to make it a positive experience that bears fruit.
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