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PERSONAL REFLECTIONS | EASTERN HORIZON 51

5. Looking Back on Our Day Questions to ask yourself:
This is similar to beginning the day with a positive Could you have been more patient, loving and kind in
purpose and spirit of intent. When put into motion, it your interactions with others?
will create a more peaceful and fulfilled day, all around.
But just as important as it is to have a positive start to Were you authentic and truthful to yourself in all of your
your day, it is of equal importance to end the day with actions?
the same degree of mindfulness and reflection.
How might you be a more understanding and empathetic

Rather than having thoughts ruminating in your head person to both yourself and others tomorrow?
such as: “I am so exhausted and just glad the day is
over,” or “Just another typical hard or boring day,” why What was wonderful and joyous about your day?
not instead look back on your day with some gentle
reflections? What are you grateful about?

One reason why many people are not happy or And once again, the most important thing is to be loving
fulfilled in their lives is that they are either too hard on and forgiving to yourself for your transgressions. Only
themselves or not conscious and aware of their own when you are willing to forgive yourself first, can you
thoughts or actions. By being reflective about your day, forgive others.
you can give yourself the gift of not repeating the same
mistakes or missteps, and by thinking carefully about The act of looking back upon your day will not only help
how your day went and how you want it to be different, you learn about yourself and hopefully help you to be a
you can learn the art of getting to know your own mind better person, a spiritual person, and a loving person to
and how you act and react in different circumstances. yourself and others, but be a happier person as well. EH

You will also have more reflective, interesting and Source: the Elephant Journal, Jan 18, 2013
revealing dreams if your last thoughts before drifting off
were thoughtful, rather than random and purposeless.
While knowledge isn’t always power, it can lead you to
a more spiritual path that can make you happier, if you
learn how to reflect upon your thoughts and actions.

How to Look Back on your Day

Sit down in a quiet spot, on your bed, a chair or
anywhere you can be alone for at least 15 minutes.

Close your eyes and think about your day as if it were
a movie or a book; notice the different scenes that
you were a part of, the people you interacted with and
the feelings that you felt. And now, just sit with those
feelings and think about how you might wish to act
differently and feel differently if you were faced with the
same circumstances.