24 QUESTIONS FOR SPIRITUAL REFLECTION
Learning to be self-reflective is an ongoing quest for anyone who wants to grow spiritually or make progress in their journey of faith. No one should think it will come from simply trying it once or twice but should instead consider the benefit of rhythms of consistently pursuing this art.
What is self-reflection?
Looking “within” offers a window to consider your actions and decisions in light of your beliefs. It allows you to explore areas where you feel strong or weak and helps you take an honest assessment of your motives.
What you find as you gaze deeper within will impact your actions for the day as well as the future. It will help you live better in the present, make wiser choices, and see your life going in the direction you long for it to go.
Asking certain questions may help you understand better what is brewing inside your mind. If you hold to a pattern of slowing down and asking yourself candid questions, you will find yourself less and less intimidated by self-reflection. These questions may help you approach a challenging situation with a fresh perspective, or they may nudge you to face something you fear. The questions should prompt you to delve into what drives you spiritually and help you explore your connection to something greater than just today’s agenda.
Here is the general thrust of any questions seeking to help you dive deeper:
They should help you look beyond the physical world, to assess your compassion, faith, and love.
They should help you examine your motivations and your values.
They should help you become curious about what could be.
Also, keep in mind, most of these questions won’t have one set response and will probably touch on some sensitive areas. The answers may not be easy to think about but try not to dread this. By bravely facing your reactions and seeking solutions, you will deeply impact your personal spiritual growth which will lead to deeper soul health.
Working as a Christian-Life Coach, I help people learn to ask the right questions and seek the answers that spur them forward.
Where to start?
Begin with making time for self-reflection. Set aside a few minutes to slow your thoughts, to pull away from devices, phone calls and the ever present “to-do” checklist. You must train your mind to stop and think.
Find a quiet place. Try to limit distractions. The art of focusing attention on this present moment is to uncover a deeper awareness.
Consider writing about your reactions to help organize your thoughts. Just jot down the question and your response. The record you keep allows you to look back and see patterns in your answers and offers encouragement to you as you see your progress. The words on the page will teach you lessons about who you are and how you behave. They may help identify thought patterns and behaviors that are working against you.
Pick just a few questions each day. Allow thoughts to flow freely. Choose other questions the next time you do this exercise.
A quote by Dietrich Bonhoeffer is a challenge to us, that, “We should rise up from our meditation in a different state from when we sat down.” Hard to do if we don’t make effort to go deeper and allow God to impact our heart.
Self-reflection helps you be more familiar with the inner workings of your mind. It puts you in touch with a unique way to approach your spiritual journey.
As the saying goes, “success leaves clues”. If you want to heal from religious hurts, allow someone who has also been in this boat to help guide you. Let me be your “Christian-Life Coach” for a time. Your personal soul health will be well worth your investment.
Let these questions become a springboard for your introspection. Start with these and learn to welcome more/others that will narrow in on your specific need
1. For what am I grateful today?
2. How does practicing gratitude affect my outlook?
3. To whom could I express my appreciation today?
4. What have I learned recently in my spiritual life?
5. What is something I have learned recently about myself?
6. What are three words that best describe my connection with God?
7. What is something about which I am worried?
8. What feeds my spirit?
9. What does forgiveness mean to me?
10. Is there someone I need to forgive? What would this look like?
11. Who is someone I admire? What one trait in them could I imitate today? Why is this helpful to me?
12. Is there a “shadow-self” that I try to hide from others? Why do I do this?
13. How does my faith influence my day-to-day life?
14. What are the three core values in my life? Why are these important to me? How do they guide my decisions?
15. What does it mean for me to grow spiritually?
16. How has your understanding of spiritual growth evolved in your life? Is your faith different today than it has been in the past?
17. How do I navigate days with doubt or uncertainty?
18. Am I in a period of spiritual dryness? Boredom? Is there anything I need to do about this?
19. Which spiritual practices help me feel better connected to God?
20. What helps me cultivate inner peace in the middle of a hectic pace? What creates feelings of happiness?
21. How can I show more grace and compassion to others?
22. How can I show more grace and compassion to myself?
23. What am I holding onto that no longer benefits or serves my life?
24. What does it mean for me to show love to others?
Of course, reflecting on these questions will not eliminate stressful difficulties in your life. But know this, the more you become aware of your fears, your motivations, and any challenges you face, the more you can make informed choices, the more you will experience personal spiritual progress. You will “rise up from your meditation in a different state from when you sat down.”
Share below in the comments below (or email me!) one of the questions you were able to answer today and how it helped you. Can’t wait to hear from you!