Paul Catchlove

If I'm honest, while I strive for this ambition, I haven't always succeeded.

But reflection has helped me to build better relationships.

A number of years ago, I was giving a feedback session with a colleague, and after having done so, I took a few moments to jot down some thoughts as to how it went.

I realized I had been too clinical.

In fact, if only you could have seen the expressions on my colleague's face.

I'd raced through their various strengths and moved on to spending more time on their areas for development.

If I'd really thought about this person, I would have spent far greater time actually on their strengths and actually emphasizing why they were such a valuable member of our organization, and then creating a space where they felt psychologically safe to be able to go on and explore these areas for development.

Reflection has helped me to improve this and to build better relationships.

So this might all sound a little fine and dandy and maybe obvious or trivial, but the truth is, so many of us don't take time out for regular reflection.

This practice has helped me, and I am so grateful.

After I left being a priest, I took some time out for reflection to think about who I was and what I wanted my life to be about.

Reflection helped me to grapple with this, and it continues to help me today as I grapple with this and other topics.

So as we end this day, or tomorrow before you begin the next, sit down, take a breath and reflect, and you'll see the power that this habit brings to your life.

Thank you.