DECIPHERING ‘ROAD’

Let us now start our journey of the ‘ROAD’ from FAST ROAD to Leadership.

ROAD is formed from four words:

Reflect – Observe – Absorb – Do

When you read the word ‘reflect’, what is it that comes to mind? Perhaps the image you see when you look at mirror or still water or any other shiny surface. What is the reflex action once you see your reflection? Make some adjustments – either in hairstyle or in the dress or the face. The modern way to make such adjustments is to put your smart phone on front camera mode. Isn’t that true?

Some of you may think of another meaning that relates to mind – think deeply, deliberate upon and so on.

The context in which we are discussing is more about mind.

When we look into the mirror, it is very honest in throwing back to us what we look like. There is no judgement in the mirror. Sharing a small story to highlight my point.

“Long ago in a small, far away village, there was place known as the House of 1000 Mirrors. A small, happy little dog learned of this place and decided to visit. When he arrived, he bounced happily up the stairs to the doorway of the house. He looked through the doorway with his ears lifted high and his tail wagging as fast as it could. To his great surprise, he found himself staring at 1000 other happy little dogs with their tails wagging just as fast as his. He smiled a great smile, and was answered with 1000 great smiles just as warm and friendly. As he left the House, he thought to himself, "This is a wonderful place. I will come back and visit it often." In this same village, another little dog, who was not quite as happy as the first one, decided to visit the house. He slowly climbed the stairs and hung his head low as he looked into the door. When he saw the 1000 unfriendly looking dogs staring back at him, he growled at them and was horrified to see 1000 little dogs growling back at him. As he left, he thought to himself, "That is a horrible place, and I will never go back there again." All the faces in the world are mirrors. What kind of reflections do you see in the faces of the people you meet?” So, it is not only mirrors that reflect, people and events do too. There is a lot of stuff in the mind that needs to be brought to light and that is possible only through reflection. The best investment any one can make is the investment in self, through the process of reflection.

You will get to know the actions which need to change only when you reflect on them. You will know which feelings need your attention only when you reflect on your feelings. You will realise which limiting beliefs need to be knocked out only when you become aware of them through reflection.

You can ask questions to yourself which are a powerful tool to help you reflect. You may choose to ask for feedback from people who are close to you and then reflect on it. Reflection needs time, your own time, for your own self. Because you are important, very important. Give yourself the gift of reflection – it can be as little as 5 minutes in your own company and as you start enjoying your own company, you will increase the time on your own.