“Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.” —Aristotle.
Success is not an accident. It is the result of deliberate choices, consistent actions, and disciplined habits. High-performers recognize that excellence is a journey, not a destination, and it requires continuous improvement in both personal and professional arenas. In this blog, we will delve into nine habits that define high-performers and offer practical advice on how you can adopt these habits to level up your career and life. The first habit of a high-performer is self-reflection. The journey toward excellence begins with self-awareness.
These days, among the hustle and bustle of modern life, it’s all too easy to lose oneself in the sea of everything else going on and forget a really important element of success: self-awareness. Very few people become top performers without growing, both personally and professionally, from the inside. They practice self-reflection, a habit that helps them align their actions with their aspirations, adjust their behaviour, and live with purpose. But more than everything else, self-reflection is necessary for unceasing development.
The Power of Self-Reflection
Self-reflection refers to analyzing one’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviours in much detail. It brings about clarity and can intensify your strengths and work on your weak areas effectively. It is not only about what one did in the past but also setting a direction for where one is going. Through reflection, super-achievers keep themselves in check, stay on course in values and objectives, make better decisions, and keep the attention on the long-term horizon.
“Thinking Time” sounds very counterproductive to a world of action that is constantly pulling one’s interest. But it’s an important investment in growth. Making time for reflection—10 minutes daily or a longer weekly session—is critical. Reflect on such important questions at this time:
• What have I done well today or over the past week?
• What challenges have I confronted and how did I react?
• What can I do better next time?
It will become clear through these self-assessments that patterns of your behaviour emerge, showing areas for improvement and allowing you an opportunity to tweak what isn’t working.
Swami Vivekananda: The Ideal of Self-Contemplation
One of the greatest spiritual leaders in India, and at the same time, one of the greatest self-contemplators, was Swami Vivekananda. He always believed that in life, one must first know oneself before attempting to change the world. The practice of introspection made it possible for him to forge his mission in life: to disseminate spiritual wisdom and raise humanity to be what it should become.
Upon such grand self-awareness rested the capacity of Vivekananda to explain in eloquent terms the essence of Vedantic philosophy as he went on tour in the West. As he rightly said, “You have to grow from the inside out. None can teach you, none can make you spiritual. There is no other teacher but your own soul.” His message remains today an inspiration to millions that true wisdom and strength lie within. Following in Vivekananda’s footsteps, we too can find the purpose of our lives, achieve clarity within, and make conscious choices for further progress.
Personal Example: Power of Self-Reflection
There was a period in my life when I had accomplished quite a bit, but professionally, I seemed to be stuck somewhere. Everything seemed fine on the outside, but deep inside, there was a feeling of no fulfillment or purpose. Then I realized, I had to stop and reconsider where I was heading. That is when I began daily writing in my personal journal, reflecting on the thoughts, actions, and feelings of the day.
Through this self-reflection process, I discovered that the key driver of my dissatisfaction was being in a role that didn’t resonate with me at a value level—prompting me to make a substantial career change. Today, I am a successful entrepreneur; I follow my dream and purpose. If I had never taken that reflective journey into my life, I would indeed be going in the wrong direction. However, self-awareness has since led me to smoothly change and actually live life in a way that brings satisfaction.
Some More Advantages of Self-Reflection
• Clarity of Purpose: Regular self-reflection helps clarify goals and values, leading to more fulfilling personal and professional decisions.
• Better Decision-Making: In the quest for high performance, tough decisions need to be made. Self-reflection helps assess situations objectively and leads to better judgment with fewer regrets.
• Emotional intelligence: Knowing your emotions and the reactions that you get from them is emotional intelligence, and one gets good at handling stress, relationships, and challenges.
• Resilience: It helps one learn from setbacks and failures so that he or she comes back stronger with very important life lessons.
• Personal Growth: Self-reflection allows for unending growth by pointing out areas that need improvement. This makes you further aware of the strengths and weaknesses that help you make even more proactive moves in developing your skills and character.
Conclusion: Everything Is Already Within You
Self-reflection is the basis of growth. It assists high achievers in remaining true to themselves, adapting to challenges, and constantly raising the bar. Through this, one may realize their full potential, make the right choices, and lead a life in consonance with their core values.
Remember, self-reflection is a continuous process. Each reflection brings new insights, moving you closer to becoming the best version of yourself. As it was said by Swami Vivekananda, “Arise, awake, and stop not till the goal is reached.” Let self-reflection be the guiding light in this journey toward improvement and success.
Learn more about Self-Reflection and other tips for becoming a Top Performer at: ORL Leadership Summit 2024.
Dr. Prahlada N.B
MBBS (JJMMC), MS (PGIMER, Chandigarh).
MBA (BITS, Pilani), MHA,
Executive Programme in Strategic Management (IIM, Lucknow)
Senior Management Programme in Healthcare Management (IIM, Kozhikode)
Postgraduate Certificate in Technology Leadership and Innovation (MIT, USA)
Advanced Certificate in AI for Digital Health and Imaging Program (IISc, Bengaluru).
Senior Professor and former Head,
Department of ENT-Head & Neck Surgery, Skull Base Surgery, Cochlear Implant Surgery.
Basaveshwara Medical College & Hospital, Chitradurga, Karnataka, India.
My Vision: I don’t want to be a genius. I want to be a person with a bundle of experience.
My Mission: Help others achieve their life’s objectives in my presence or absence!
My Values: Creating value for others.
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Succinctly told by you Prahlada Sir,
"Self-introspection fuels growth…"
In the grand tapestry of life, self-introspection is the golden thread that weaves together the fabric of excellence. Like a master artist, the high performer holds up the mirror of reflection, gazing deep into the soul to align the brushstrokes of aspiration with the canvas of purpose.
As the wise Swami Vivekananda whispered, "The soul is the ultimate guru," beckoning us to listen to the whispers within. Like a lotus blooming in the depths of a serene lake, self-reflection unfurls the petals of growth, revealing the beauty of unceasing development.
With each dawn, the clarion call of "Arise, awake" echoes through the chambers of the heart, urging us to embark on the odyssey of self-discovery. Like a river flowing relentlessly to the ocean, the journey of self-reflection knows no bounds, until the shores of our goals are reached.
In this sacred pilgrimage, the compass of self-awareness guides us through the terrain of triumphs and tribulations, illuminating the path to all-round growth. As the poet's pen dances on the page, self-reflection writes the symphony of success, where every note resonates with purpose and every melody whispers the wisdom of the soul.
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