Becoming a Reflective Practitioner

Description

Not many people think of sitting down and writing about an experience or an emotion. Reflective writing often has a stigma around it turning people away from jotting down events in their life. Though, through describing and evaluating experiences or emotion enables people to develop insight and perspective and further analyse events (Deakin University, 2021). There are different beliefs of being a reflective practitioner, and if it is necessary to become one is the question at hand. 

Feelings

Personally, I had never been interested in journaling or reflective writing. However, I have people close to me who swear by it. Before engaging with the topic, I had only heard the impact it has had on them, improving mental health and analysing the world deeper. Prior to evaluation, the thought of writing down emotions made me uncomfortable. Though after research, I understand the significance of becoming a reflective practitioner and the positives it possesses. 

 
Evaluation

Strengths and weaknesses of becoming a reflective practitioner:

Strengths	Weaknesses
-       Allows for critical evaluation -       Makes authors aware -       Increase emotional intelligence  -       Develop creative skills	Unrealistic to think it is always easy      Time restrictions        Illusion

Analysis

Reflective writing is believed to be the mediating role between knowledge and experience, which is what makes it so appealing (Vassilaki, 2017). Wharton stated reflection narrates experience, associates’ feelings, explores what an individual has learnt and enables them to relate it to future action (Wharton, 2012 via Vassilaki, 2017). An important skill increases self-awareness, allows for emotional intelligence and availability for self and others, develops empathy, increases creative thinking and encourages positive actions (SkillsYouNeed, 2011). Reflective writing can also increase mindfulness, stated as a type of meditation focusing on the intense awareness of your senses and feelings (MayoClinic, 2020). Strategies such as journaling are found therapeutic. It involves the reflection of what is happening currently, how it makes one feel and the action plan following (Stukel, 2020). 

On the flip side, people shy away as the lack of time. To utilise reflective writing, it allows time, which people have limited of, making reflection unrealistic. However, setting aside 10-30 minutes per day to reflect can equate into good habits and positive benefits. Another issue with reflective writing is that it is an illusion to think it is easy. Many people are often uncomfortable with coming to terms with their feelings, and there can also be barriers to reflecting for personal reasons (University of Cambridge, 2021).

Conclusion

After engaging and researching reflective writing, it has been identified that becoming a reflective practitioner is very significant. With many benefits and limited weaknesses, all individuals should consider partaking in this practice. Allowing room for personal growth and improvement, along with a positive mindfulness, reflection appears attractive. To be able to reflect on our actions and emotions, being held accountable for them, which many find difficult, has been shown to have great success in human development. 
 

Action Plan

Now and for the future, I am now interested in becoming a reflective practitioner. For mental health purposes, it appears beneficial. Within the future, with hopes of becoming a teacher, to be able to acknowledge and evaluate my own and my student’s actions, reflecting where to improve and what to continue can be a useful strategy. 

References 

 Deakin University. (2021). Reflective Writing. https://www.deakin.edu.au/students/studying/study-support/academic-skills/reflective-writing

Mayo Clinic. (2020). Mindfulness Exercises.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/consumer-health/in-depth/mindfulness-exercises/art-20046356

Skills You Need. (2017). Reflective Practice.
https://www.skillsyouneed.com/ps/reflective-practice.html
 
Stukel, L. (2020). Blending The Benefits of Meditation & Journal Writing. 
https://insighttimer.com/blog/mindful-journaling/
 
University of Cambridge. (2021). Reflective Practice Toolkit.
https://libguides.cam.ac.uk/reflectivepracticetoolkit/barriers
 
Vassilaki, E. (2017). Reflective writing, reflecting on identities: The construction of writer identity in student teachers’ reflections. Linguistics and Education, 22(1), 43-52. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.linged.2017.08.001