🧠 Weekly Mind Sweep #100| Curated Conversation | Reflection

November 28, 2023 Jamie Chapman

December is a time of year when we feel called to slow down and look back.

Sprinkle in some of November's gratitude and anxiety-inducing marketing; we'll all "finish the year strong!"

No pressure.

That doesn't interest you either? You're in the right place.

not everyone agrees, and that’s ok

I practice daily and weekly reflection and will begin to share more of what that means. Let's support local small businesses every day. Let's all take a thoughtful, meaningful approach to life and business with integrity. Let's use the practice of reflection all year long.

But what is a reflective practice, and why does it matter?

Let's take a closer look at the definition of reflection:

re·flec·tion

/rəˈflekSH(ə)n/

Noun

1. the throwing back by a body or surface of light, heat, or sound without absorbing it.

"the reflection of light"

2. serious thought or consideration.

"he doesn't get much time for reflection."

And something with a more profound sense of meaning:

"Reflection is a deeper form of learning that allows us to retain every aspect of any experience, be it personal or professional — why something took place, what the impact was, whether it should happen again — as opposed to just remembering that it happened. It's about tapping into every aspect of the experience, clarifying our thinking, and honing in on what really matters to us." Geil Browning, Ph.D.*

See this content in the original post

Ok. Well, I'm not here to write my memoir yet, so for today, let's focus on The Weekly MindSweep.

As with most Curated Conversation topics, we could discuss reflection all year. Alas, we will continue to break it down into our four-week template:

Week 1: CURATED CONVERSATION
Week 2: MIND YOUR BUSINESS
Week 3: MANAGE YOUR MIND
Week 4: WHAT'S ON MY MIND

Some of you may have heard my story of being sent to the principal's office by my Freshman English teacher. I was 15, disrespectful, and deserving of everything from that moment forward.

That experience led me to believe I needed to catch up on many foundational tools I needed to write.

For the longest time, I told myself I wasn't a writer. My inner critic would say, "You can't write."

I was tired of that story; writing was the only way to improve.

See this content in the original post

January 4, 2022, the first Weekly MindSweep was born. As I sit to reflect and write the 100th Weekly MindSweep, I feel a deep sense of gratitude [1] for every one of you for being on this journey with me. [2]

If you return to read number one and compare it to today, you can see the evolution and growth. When 2023 arrived, there was increased trust in myself, my ideas, and my writing. This awareness began to shape the Weekly MindSweep into what it is today.

There is a dopamine rush to bringing an idea to Curated Conversation with all of my internal biases', thoughts, experiences, and ideas and having entrepreneurs join me at the table to share all of theirs to broaden everyone's perspective.

See this content in the original post

We dig, we cultivate, we learn, and we grow. Together.

We've covered a lot of topics in 2023. [3]

January - Ego
February - Neurodiversity
March - Capacity
April - Relationship
May - Patience
June - Intent
July - Permission
August - Compassion
September - Decision
October - Failure
November - Kindness
December - Reflection

Thank you for reflecting on topics with me every Monday at 8 am. There is a lot more to come.

I believe these conversations and this newsletter ripple into our relationships, homes, entrepreneurial community, and, eventually, the world.

Over the next few weeks, we'll discuss what reflection means to you and why it could be valuable to you and your business, and we'll learn more about reflection and the brain. Join us for Curated Conversation and gather with us in the Chickbook Creative Community.