Tune up your EQ

It is with deep regret that the family and friends of Galba Bright wish to inform you of Galba’s untimely passing.

Galba Francis Adeyinka Bright, Human Resource Consultant and Author, died at his office on March 31 of natural causes, leaving his wife Sandra, numerous family members, friends, associates, readers and fans.

Out of respect, the Tune up your EQ website created by Galba will therefore be offline for a short period.

We thank you for your understanding at this time and appreciate the interest you have shown in Galba’s work and ideas.

Should you wish to post comments about the personal impact of Galba’s thoughts and writings, please feel free to click here or go to his blog.

The Service of Thanksgiving for the life of Galba Bright will be held at St. John’s Methodist Church, Montego Bay, Jamaica, at 1.00 pm on Sunday, April 19, followed by interment in Dovecot of St. James Memorial Park, Orange, St. James.

How Would You Answer These 3 Simple Questions About Reflection?

March 22nd, 2008 by Galba Bright

“By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.”

Confucius

Last week’s comments about reflection by Beth Ann Robinson from the Inventing Elephants Blog,Jo Jordan from the Flowing Motion Blog , Steve Roesler from the All Things Workplace Blog and Tori from MindTweaks raised some interesting ideas about reflection.

Here are 3 simple questions to help you think about how you reflect:

1. What reflective tools do you use?

2. Does your blog influence how you reflect?

3. Have you ever changed your reflection type?

To kick things off, here are my answers to these 3 questions.

1. What reflective tools do you use?

Blogs Tune up your EQ and 3 private personal blogs, including a gratitude blog.

Other Tools A mini filofax notebook, as well as ruled paper pads of various sizes. Occasionally, I meditate.

2. Does your blog influence how you reflect?

Writing this blog helps me to become more aware of my thought processes. The discipline of writing helps me to organise my thoughts.

Readers’ comments give me a lot of valuable ideas, information and insights to reflect on. An example is last year’s Essence of Emotional Intelligence presentation and article series, which was based on readers’ comments.

3.Have you ever changed your reflection type?

I reflect more as I grow older.

Looking back ;), I suspect I’ve always been a serial reflector.

I’d like to become a master reflector. It fits my temperament, helps my personal development and is critical to the development of my business.

How About You?

Answer 1 or more of these questions in the comment box, or email me with your response. Write a blog post based on these 3 questions and link back to Tune up your EQ, so we can all see the range of responses.

Thank you, Jo Jordan Flowing Motion Blog and Tori from MindTweaks for suggesting that I dig a little deeper into the topic of reflection.

More Resources

Download The What Type Of Reflector Are You? Presentation In pdf format

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License

This work is published under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License.

Posted in Reflection, Emotional Intelligence, Blog |

8 Responses to “How Would You Answer These 3 Simple Questions About Reflection?”

Liara Covert Says:
March 22nd, 2008 at 10:55 pm
Hi Galba. Your questions spark an animated exchange. As for methods of reflections, I use infinite methods, from conscious blog posts, writing exercises, dream interpretations and group reflection sessions to unconscious methods I will continue spending a lifetime deciphering.

My blog is sometimes a mirror or an echo of my reflection. It can act as a conscience, a teacher, a guide or a third person omnicient observer. Sometimes the voice expressed comes from within me. Other times, it originates from beyond me.

The nature and depth of my reflections varies widely. It has evolved to where I recognize a separate participant and observer of the reflections whcih separates the ego from my inner spirit. I think age and life experience are not always directly related or proportional to a level of self-awareness.
David Zinger Says:
March 23rd, 2008 at 9:43 am
I am very active in reflection. Almost sounds like a contradiction in terms but I will mull over things and think about future scenarios. I am very positive and constructive in my reflection with little space for doubt, regret, guilt, or other energy sapping perspectives. I don’t put my reflections into types but I do like to reflect while I sit in the hot tub when the weather in -20 outside. I think reflection is very underused and I’ll think more abou that.

David Zinger’s last blog post..David Zinger interviewed on Small Business Guru
Galba Bright Says:
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:42 pm
Hello Liara:

Thank you for your intriguing comment. I’d love to learn more about the group reflection methods that you use. It seems that, in your hands, a blog is a highly versatile tool. I can relate to the idea of reflection being a very powerful tool for observing one’s own behaviour.

I agree that growing one’s self awareness can be a somewhat elusive endeavour. If only it grew automtivally as we aged
Galba Bright Says:
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:50 pm
Hello David: Thanks for stopping by and sharing your insights about “active reflection.” That place of using reflection to garner positive energy seems to be a great place to be. Is there a particular habit or belief that enables you to adopt this practice.

mm -20? On reflection, I think Jamaica’s heat sits better with me. The thought of cold temperatures makes me feel a little nervous Do come back and share any further thoughts you have about reflection.
Jo Says:
March 24th, 2008 at 3:20 pm
I answered fully before but with the Easter weekend just gone I might add this.

Stimulating reflection is also important.

Talking a break is useful and people like you who live close to nature are lucky. It can be hard to get distance on your life in urban living and that is very noticeable after a long weekend when there was a chance to get away.

I was listening to David Whyte (as ever) on my car CD and found myself able to shake up my thoughts that had been getting into a rut.

Freshness is the idea I am looking for, I think.

[And it snowed a little this weekend!]

Jo’s last blog post..Consider your career shift this weekend!
Jackie Cameron Says:
March 28th, 2008 at 4:57 am
Hi Galba - this really got me thinking

1 The main tool I use in reflecting is the shower or the swimming pool-does that count? In both places I can’t have any other tool (or distraction) and depending on the time I have - shower/short pool/longer - I will reflect on different issues

2 My blog has become one of the best tools I could have ever have. I challenge myself to reflect on situations that have meant something to me, how I was in those situations and what else was going on and what I learned. And then try to make the subsequent post interesting enough for others to want to read it.

3 I thought I was relatively new to reflection - maybe having been an occasional reflector when I was younger. But I think I have always been a regular (if not organised) reflector and this has come out in the many many conversations I have had with others. It would seem that I complement my reflection with trying out what I learned on others!

Thanks for the challenge
Jackie

Jackie Cameron’s last blog post..Recruitment and economics -an interesting mix
Galba Bright Says:
March 28th, 2008 at 7:18 pm
Hello Jackie:

I’m smiling as I write my reply.:) Certainly, I think the shower and the pool count because your answer describes your reality. Maybe it will also encourage others to broaden their reflective horizons. Your second paragraph reflect’s what appears to be a popular benefit of blogging. I can relate to the dynamic way that you seek to cast your personal experience in a way that delivers value to your readers. Can I ask, is there a practice that helps you achieve that balancing act? What gets in the way? I followed a link from your blog to Don’s article about Learning Logs and found it very useful. Thank you.
Galba Bright Says:
March 28th, 2008 at 7:24 pm
Hello Jo:

There’s something very evocative about your answer. I can relate to the idea of the benefit of living close to nature. After 11 years, there is a bit of a pitfall that I’ll take it for granted. Your comment reminded me to maintain my appreciation. Thank you.