When things are going well in our lives, it feels easy and effortless to focus on the positives. On the other hand, when we are faced with challenges or difficulties, negative feelings can dominate, making it harder to notice progress and remember how far we have come.
The same is true for the individuals we support: sometimes, they may need help to reflect on their successes and celebrate progress, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant. To that end, developing a robust, reflective practice that focuses on the positives can be incredibly beneficial – not just for those we support, but for us, too.
Reflection – thinking back on experiences, considering what went well and how this might affect future actions and emotions – can be transformative, especially when the focus is on the positives.
Self-reflection helps to shape our self-concept, the image we have of ourselves. This is a central part of our identity and plays an influential role in dictating our mood, judgement, and behaviour. Self-concept is not fixed, so if we view ourselves positively, and can identify and describe our successes, we are more likely to develop beliefs about ourselves that are positive.
The individuals we support often face challenges in their day-to-day lives, and by consciously reflecting on their experiences, they can increase their level of self-awareness – a key component of emotional intelligence. This, in turn, allows them to better understand their emotions and their behaviour.
As professionals, we play a vital role in influencing individuals’ self-concept, so it is important that we consider ways to support them on their journey of self-reflection. By providing different outlets and ideas for reflecting on the positives, we can help them to evaluate their strengths and use this information to build their self-esteem, increase their self-confidence and develop a positive mindset.
Read our article about taking a strengths-based approach.
Incorporating journalling into a daily routine is a great way to ‘capture’ the improvements we are making. By committing to a regular practice, we are better able to see both the bigger picture and the incremental steps along the way.
Because life is busy, we can sometimes overlook the small wins we experience on a daily basis, so recording things allows us to remember and reflect on change and see how far we have come. Journalling prompts can be a useful way to get started, either used independently, or with our support, depending on individual need.
Journalling doesn’t have to be written, or a traditional diary entry. We can use alternative and augmentative communication to support and have fun with different ways of recording reflections. This could include making audio recordings and voice notes, using visual cards and prompts, or scribing on behalf of an individual.
Watch our Talking Behaviour episode about effective use of AAC.
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