I am a very visualized type of person. I can understand things easier if I create a vision about the ideas, projects, anything come to my mind, or even better if I draw or write it down. If I think about reflection I imagine it as a mirror… a mirror to look at and try to see the details, the meanings to get the real picture. It’s like you look at the mirror and you see a pretty face, but is it you? People will know who you are if they look at your face? The answer is very easy for it, of course NOT!!! Like we say, don’t judge a book by the cover! So you need to look at the details to find out who is behind that pretty face.
I’m a women (I know it is not a big news for you). Usually woman ask more questions and like to combine things in their heads, sometimes we like to do even movies in our heads, but that’s a different story. We like to analyse things around us even in private life, even in our professional life. We are always looking for every possibility may happen. Just think of an interview. I am sure all of you already been in these shoes… you imagine how it will be, what questions will be asked and what your answers would be…maybe there will be a question, which you didn’t think of and then you need to improvise but most of the time you already know what questions can come up…But when you are reflecting on yourself, or on anything the questions are not clear. There will always be a new question, which you didn’t think will come up! Maybe that’s why I find it quite exciting, because you don’t see the end even if analysing is in my blood as I am a women.:)
I think in reflection the most important is to see the whole picture…not only the surface, not only the deeper meaning, not only the details, but the way how you got your answers and the way how you were progressing in your journey.
Last weekend (6 days ago) we had our monthly scheduled skype conference talk with MAPP DTP. One of my question was how to imagine this reflective journal? I got my answer from the call, but I think before I started actually do it I have just imagined it…I didn’t understand how it actually happens and how will I see the improvement of mine or how my questions will change etc. etc….
Like I said in the conference talk I feel I need a little research… don’t misunderstand, I don’t need this research to please others, but to please myself. I didn’t feel myself ready to write about reflective journal before my own reflection… I didn’t research on the internet, but I made my research what’s happening inside me… I have put everything in the practice because I was curious what can I see after a week from my reflective journal. Is it really worth it? Can I really see something what I would not see if I was not writing a diary about my professional life and studies and their connections?
WOW! I was impressed…the results are even more surprising than what I have could ever imagine! Not only I realised that I am still learning every day from my professional practice without noticing it, but I realised how my questions are changing after finding a different opinion, or an article or experience something at my work or anything else… actually the questions inside me have more meaning than the answers because they show the way of my thoughts how they develop and how they improve in quality and also the goal where I am heading to…
I think now I am more excited than ever before about this course….. I think even after this course I wish to continue this reflective journal as it is an amazing way to learn from the way I am working, I am practising and I am studying…
What have you realised from your journal? Is it anything else? Or do you have similar experience with it?
Suzy MAPP DTP 