Monday Madness

Tavia Robinson

Aug 17

3 min read

Monday Madness: Faith in Your Capacity to Grow.

"What if your past is evidence of what you've experienced--not proof of what you're capable of becoming?"

Take a moment.

Pause.

Breathe in slowly…

Exhale.

Again.

Breathe in…

Exhale.

One more time.

Let the distractions settle—and simply be present.

Here’s something worth remembering:

You are not stuck with the mind you have today.

Your brain does not simply “finish” developing at 18.

Research from the National Institute of Mental Health indicates that important brain maturation continues into the mid-to-late 20s. And beyond development, neuroscience has demonstrated something equally encouraging: neuroplasticity—the brain’s capacity to adapt and change—continues across the lifespan. (National Institute of Mental Health⁠)

That means learning is not reserved for the young.

Growth has no age limit.

And transformation certainly does not have an expiration date.

So what does that mean for you?

It means you can pause long enough to examine the way you are thinking, responding, deciding and showing up.

That is where self-reflection becomes powerful.

Self-reflection invites us to move from:

“This is just how I am.”

“What am I noticing—and what choice do I have now?”

As a PCC, I see reflection not as simply looking backward, but as an opportunity to increase awareness, perspective, intentionality and choice.

Sometimes, the most powerful question is not:

“What happened to me?”

but:

“What am I learning about myself through what happened?”

The Power of Self-Reflection: 10 Questions to Consider

1. Am I using my time intentionally—or simply staying busy?

2. What am I taking for granted that deserves greater appreciation?

3. What perspective might I be missing right now?

4. Am I living in alignment with the person I say I want to be?

5. What am I avoiding that may deserve my attention?

6. What thoughts, assumptions or narratives am I repeatedly rehearsing?

7. Which relationships am I nurturing—and which may need my attention?

8. How am I caring for myself physically, mentally and emotionally?

9. What am I trying to control that is actually outside my control?

10. What goal matters to me—and what is one intentional action I am willing to take toward it?

You don’t have to answer all ten today.

Choose one... Sit with it... Get curious rather than judgmental.

Self-reflection is most useful when it moves us from awareness to choice—and from choice to action.

Research on reflective practices supports their potential to enhance learning, while broader research on well-being interventions suggests that intentional practices can contribute to improved well-being. (Taylor & Francis Online⁠)

For leaders, reflection can be particularly valuable. Harvard Business Review has highlighted research connecting self-reflection with motivation and professional effectiveness. (Harvard Business Review⁠)

Monday Madness Challenge:

What is one thought, belief, habit or behavior you are ready to examine more intentionally this week?
What are you noticing?
What might you be learning?
What choice is available to you now?

And most importantly...
What are you willing to do differently?