Psychological research indicates that going through complicated or negative experiences such as death, divorce, health crises or unemployment can give life meaning.
By reflecting on negative experiences, people can find greater meaning in their lives and develop clearer selfawareness. The ability for selfreflection can also promote the development of wisdom.
Strengthening of resilience to stressful and adverse situations
Through a model of systematic selfreflection, researchers at Macquarie University in Australia found that it builds resilience in the face of life’s adversities. Exposure to stressors triggers this reflection and increases one’s ability to assess problemsolving strategies, taskoriented coping, and stubborn beliefs about oneself.
Thinking about your own thoughts, feelings, and behaviors is an effective way to increase resilience to adversity, as it allows you to assess how to deal with them and the best strategies for solving problems.
Create a deeper understanding of yourself
A study conducted by Oregon State University in the United States used adults between the ages of 56 and 91 to understand how wisdom develops during difficult times.
Most study participants reported that the difficult experiences they focused on affected their core beliefs and understanding of the world. According to researchers, people react to difficult life events in three different ways:
13 of the respondents simply accepted the event without questioning the meaning of their lives. 5 participants were able to clarify a specific value or belief that had not been previously identified. For most participants (32), the difficult event led to reflection on themselves, their core beliefs and understanding of the world, and to question their previous perspectives.
Research suggests that selfreflection in the face of difficult life events can produce positive outcomes, especially when done with a “What Not Why” approach. Asking “why did this happen?” It may not be effective as it can lead to superficial reactions and negative emotions, leaving the person stuck in the past. Instead, the “What Not Why” approach allows for a broader and more constructive assessment of the situation without encouraging external blame and personal development.
Selfreflection can be achieved by asking “What?” questions. Questions like “What’s happening?”, “How am I feeling?”, “What would be an alternative solution to this situation?”, and “What can I do to avoid getting hurt so badly?” are examples of this.
These questions lead to positive selfreflection, which can help us deal with the situation and get to know ourselves better.