Angela Hutchinson,
Truly this is one of the keys to success. Good post.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
It allows you to take past experience, alter it to fit the situation and develop new ideas or concepts to solve current problems. The ablility to grow and prosper has always been based on reflections of what did not work and what did and then to apply this knowledge for future.
Cecilia,
;-] It can be, but not always. ;-]
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
Cecilia,
Good points. Thank you for sharing.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
OH I thought of one--I think too much. It can be a form of worrying.
I develop my insight, and I find deeper meaning in creative works, which gives my life more meaning. Drawbacks: oftentimes people cut me off saying 'it's just a movie (or song, or painting).' I don't know if there are any personal drawbacks, never thought about it.
Cecilia,
Interesting...Mmm... what advantages to you find with this process and what drawbacks? Thanks for sharing.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
Cecilia,
I have heard that when you say "I can" and when you say "I can't" you are usually correct. I believe you are correct that confidence in your solution process is probably a significant component.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
I ruminate a lot, on movies, books, lyrics to songs, and conversation with friends. Often I go back to the person with additional insights, which often surprises them; a lot of times they've moved on from the topic.
Yes, I love how this works. I've done a lot of work with self hypnosis around big questions; when I came out of trance, I didn't have an answer and I thought it hadn't worked for me. But I've discovered that if I wait a bit, and maybe if I discuss the problem or question, I find myself stating the answer and amazing myself.
I understand the same thing can be done to find lost items. Interestingly, I won't try this because for some reason, I don't believe it will work, and so of course, it hasn't the few times I did try it. Belief, or perhaps self-trust, may be an important component for coming up with a solution. So now, it occurs to me to begin changing my set notion and try again!
Luke,
That is not only good customer service but a significant component of curriculum development to include the learner's perspective and needs. Excellent example thank you for sharing.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
I think a huge benefit of reflection, especially in the foodservice business, is to truly find out what the customer wants. The Dave Thomas anecdote hits the mark. I was recently given a syllabus for a class and found the students weren't getting high marks on quizzes, tests, etc. After approaching the Academic department I felt the direction wasn't heading in a logical way. So I proposed an online anonymous survey to the class telling what they would do differently. I recieved a flood of input. Most notably, the order in which I delivered the information made them confused. I rearranged a few lectures and immediately saw the students comprehension increase. Something as simple as the order in which I delivered the information made a huge impact. I would have not thought of it had I not asked my customers.
Felix,
Yes, both approaches require time. Sometimes a combination of trial and error and acquiring perception from the surroundings can be a good approach. Just a thought.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
Reflective thinking allows enough time to think what are the best way of solving a problem or completing a task. It allows the necessary time to acquire perseption from the surroundings, rather than using trial and error to solve the issue.
Beth,
This is an excellent example. Most professional level tasks require reflective thinking on a frequent basis.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
Working as a nurse there are many times where I have to step back and do reflective thinking. Not always is the answer right in front of me so I have to step back and think about what I am doing in order to solve the problem that presents itself.
Vikky,
Your examples are good demonstrations of the value provided by proper uses of reflective thinking. Thank you for sharing your insights.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
I am an instructor of veterinary medicine where reflective thinking is routinely needed. We must constantly use observation, whether it it assessing an animals behavior or taking the time to really "listen" to what a client is saying. Our students must daily consider multiple options while working with the patients, since what worked on "dog A" will not necessarily work on "dog B", or even on "dog A" again later in the day. They have to talso take an idea or a theory they have learned & use it on a real life patient.
Paula ,
Very good points. Swimming against the today's fast-paced environment is a tough part of this.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
The most valuable element of reflective thinking is that "reflective" quality -- looking into a mirror (metaphorically) and having what is reflected back at you be a mirror image -- i.e., looking at the subject from different vantage points and thus seeing the subject in new ways. Reflective thinking involves taking time and stepping back to see the subject in a larger context, often, and that is a challenge in our fast-paced society...but it is an essential ingredient in the process because it can open new windows of perception, and, thus, options for problem-solving.
