Reflection

Reflection is the process of examining what you did, how it felt, and why it happened. It reveals the patterns behind your choices and shows how your habits and mindset shape each other. Without reflection, change still happens, but it happens unconsciously. With it, growth becomes deliberate and directed rather than accidental.

Reflection works closely with self-awareness: awareness lets you notice what is happening, and reflection helps you understand it and decide what to adjust.

The role of reflection in the Hagen Growth Philosophy

This pillar is part of the core Hagen Growth philosophy, which you can read here.

In the Hagen Growth Loop, mindset and behavior influence each other automatically. Reflection makes this automatic loop conscious. It shows where alignment strengthens your progress and where misalignment slowly pulls you off course.

Reflection acts as the bridge between the two sides of the loop, helping you understand why certain patterns repeat, how your changes affect you, and what to refine next. It also supports Positive Realism by grounding belief in evidence rather than assumptions.

How reflection works in practice

Reflection moves through three simple steps: noticing a pattern, understanding why it happened, and deciding what to adjust. Small observations accumulate into clarity, and that clarity guides better decisions and efforts.

The simplest way to reflect is through journaling. Writing gives your thoughts structure, making it easier to see connections, track changes, and understand how your mindset, behavior and external situation influence each other. Over time, these observations make your loop easier to guide in a positive direction.

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Paul Hagen
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