When Charles Dickens wrote, “Reflect upon your present blessings - of 
which every man has many - not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some,” he was really referring to a situation similar to a recent commenter here at Brain Based Business. The reader of my June 28th blog, Cortisol Shuts Down Your Ability to Communicate” showed the power of reflection to move from stressors that work against the brain… to well being that sets us back on a path to better outcomes.
Reflection, the first sign of any improvement… showed up in a comment….
“...I pondered that if I had been cut off by another driver resisted the urge …”
Reflection that leads to inner growth improvement, often starts with deep inner questions and an openness to learn something new….
“… what had I done?
…Had I controlled my anger or had I suppressed my aggression?
… had I actually achieved biological mastery of my physiological response to external stimuli?
…had I actually hidden my natural response to this external stimulus, and thereby allowed my natural aggressive reaction to grow and fester within me?
…What now of cortisol?
…How do we master our natural "fight or flight" response? “
Whenever we step back from what we do and think, to question as this commenter did…, we are reflecting in powerful ways that will improve our performance the next time stress hits. Reflection leads to answers that escape many who no longer know what it is like to live without cortisol – the hormone for stress and illness.
They also help us to think about the blessings that actually rewire the human brain's capacity to take in more blessings that otherwise pass us by. What do you think?
Ellen:
I am fascinated by the power of reflection. Do you see any downsides to being reflective ?
Posted by: Galba Bright | September 30, 2006 12:34 PM | Permalink to Comment