GMC News
Word of the Week: Reflection
Georgia Military College Prep School
Word of the Week: Reflection
Week of March 20 – 26, 2016
Definition: A consideration of some subject matter, idea, or purpose.
Quotable Quotes:
“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
“Without reflection, we go blindly on our way, creating more unintended consequences, and failing to achieve anything useful.” – Margaret J. Wheatley
“I had chosen to use my work as a reflection of my values.” – Sidney Poitier
“The older you get, the more you realize that the way you look is a reflection of how you treat yourself.” – Hope Davis
“Reflection makes men cowards.” – William Hazlitt
Let’s Get To the Point:
We live in a busy world that is constantly bombarding us with decisions that have to be made. We as a society would like to be proactive to the world around us, but in fact the majority of us are reactive to most situations we encounter. With all that being said, how often do you stop and reflect upon what it happening in your life? Do you do it daily or weekly or only after you have had one of those ‘moments’ that you regret later? Was it something you said or something you did that made you realize what a bonehead move that was?
Putting Words into Action:
Yoga. Meditation. Your quiet time in the morning. As Otis Redding sang “Sitting on the dock of the bay, watching the tide roll away.” How do you mediate and reflect on your life? We all need to find some time during our hectic lives to reflect back on our day or week or life sometimes. Reflection will make you a better person at home or work or anywhere for that matter. When we reflect, we find our shortcomings and can formulate a way to be better.
Think About It:
Life is too short and precious not to take time and reflect on where you have been and what you have done. If you do not take some time and reflect, you are doomed to repeat a mistake over and over again. It is probably a good idea to reflect upon something before you even start so you can enter into it with a clear and open mind. So take a minute today and REFLECT!
Reflection
My father’s favorite quote is “never look back and keep moving forward.” He tells me this whenever he can, never missing an opportunity to drill into my head farther. The idea he instills is a pervasive one: do not focus on the past, focus on what is to come. But, there is one part to that lifestyle that he has forgotten. While it is important to avoid a stagnant lifestyle while living in past memories, you must reflect over the past to gain insight on how to improve on one’s life.
Reflection is a two part action. The first, of course, is to think and consider one’s past actions. The second, and the harder one of the two, is to apply the conclusion to one’s life. There is no point of thinking, or pondering, or considering, without the second part. If one does not apply the conclusions to his life, then the thinking itself becomes irrelevant. It is necessary to change and evolve through life. Thinking but not applying the thought to one’s life is like working hard for the money to buy a new television, but being too lazy to go out and get it, leaving the old model in its place, never improving. Reflection gives one the opportunity for improvement, which can lead to a happier life.
Reflection is a way to build character. No one is perfect from the start of their life to the end. People make mistakes, and regret things, but the way to change and to learn from those experiences is to reflect on them. If people do not, then they could end up making the same mistakes over and over again, never learning how to become a happier, better, person. Reflecting is something everyone must do throughout their entire lives. So, take the time to reflect. As Socrates said, “The unexamined life is not worth living.”
C/SFC Audrey Harris is a student at Georgia Military College Prep School
