The Power of Reflection: Embracing Growth as I Approach My 28th Birthday

May 28

Hello, lovely readers!

As I sit here, coffee in hand and heart full, I'm filled with a sense of anticipation and reflection. In just a few days, I'll be celebrating my 28th birthday. It’s a milestone that has prompted me to pause and take stock of where I’ve been, where I am, and where I’m headed. Today, I want to share with you the profound benefits of reflection and how it’s helping me embrace this new chapter with open arms.

Embracing Growth Through Reflection

Reflection has become a cornerstone of my journey. It’s a practice that allows me to look back on the past year with gratitude, to acknowledge the highs and lows, and to understand how these experiences have shaped me. As I approach my 28th year, I’ve found that taking time to reflect offers several beautiful benefits:

1. Clarity and Perspective

Life moves fast, and it’s easy to get caught up in the daily hustle. Reflection provides a moment of stillness, a chance to step back and see the bigger picture. It’s like looking at a painting from a distance—you see the colors, the patterns, and the overall composition more clearly. This clarity helps me understand my goals and dreams, making it easier to align my actions with my true purpose.

2. Gratitude and Appreciation

Reflecting on the past year fills my heart with gratitude. It’s a time to celebrate the wins, no matter how small, and to appreciate the growth that comes from challenges. Each experience, each lesson learned, adds a layer to the person I am becoming. This practice of gratitude shifts my focus from what’s lacking to what’s abundant in my life, fostering a sense of contentment and joy.

3. Learning and Growth

Every year brings its own set of lessons. By reflecting, I can identify the key takeaways from my experiences. What did I learn from that difficult project? How did I grow from that personal challenge? Reflection turns experiences into valuable lessons, guiding me to make better choices and to approach the future with wisdom and resilience. Birthing 2 babies in less than 2 years also helps.

4. Setting Intentions

With clarity and gratitude comes the ability to set meaningful intentions for the year ahead. Reflection is not just about looking back; it’s also about looking forward. It’s about envisioning the life I want to create and setting purposeful goals to make that vision a reality. These intentions become my guiding star, keeping me focused and motivated as I journey through the year. I truly believe that 28 is going to be one of the best years of my life, and that’s saying a lot considering the past few years have been filled to the brim with blessings.

5. Mindfulness and Presence

Reflection encourages mindfulness, a practice of being present in the moment. As I reflect, I’m reminded to savor the here and now, to be fully engaged with my loved ones, and to appreciate the simple pleasures of life. This mindfulness enriches my daily experiences, making each moment a little more meaningful.

My Reflection Ritual

Over the past week, I’ve dedicated time each day to reflect. Here’s a glimpse into my reflection ritual:

Journaling: Writing down my thoughts helps me process my experiences. I jot down memorable moments, lessons learned, and things I’m grateful for.
Meditation/Activation: A few minutes of quiet meditation allows me to connect with my inner self, bringing a sense of peace and clarity.
Gratitude Lists: Listing out the things I’m thankful for each day keeps my focus on the positive.
Vision Boarding: Creating a vision board for the upcoming year helps me visualize my goals and dreams. This one may sound a little woo-woo, hippie to you (as if the meditation and activation didn’t already), but I have truly found that this helps. When your meditation, activation, and vision boarding is rooted in Biblical truth, I truly believe this can be SO POWERFUL.

Embracing the Future with an Open Heart

As I step into my 28th year, I do so with an open heart and a reflective mind. I’m excited for the adventures that await and the growth that will come. Reflection has shown me that every year is a gift, a new chapter in the story of my life. It’s a reminder to cherish each moment, to learn from every experience, and to continue growing into the person I aspire to be.

Thank you for joining me on this journey of reflection. Here’s to embracing growth, cherishing the present, and looking forward to the future with hope and excitement.

Cheers,

Jenna Elrod