Self-reflection helps us learn important lessons, gain perspective and evolve into better human beings. It helps us understand ourselves more by uncovering our strengths, weaknesses, and behavioral patterns. While it’s not always a joyous process, self-reflection can help us create a better future.
When used to revisit a negative experience, reflecting can open our minds to see any self-sabotaging tendencies or limiting beliefs we may have. In these situations, we can understand what we need to change and do differently next time.
When used for positive experiences, we learn our skills and talents and see how much we have already grown. Self-reflection is essentially studying ourselves to become the best version possible.
Maybe you’re reflecting on the past year, revisiting a painful experience or negative interaction, or simply getting to know yourself better. Either way, reflection quotes will help bring you into a deeper state of self-awareness. We’ve put together a list of the best perspective and self-reflection quotes to inspire and prompt you to do the inner work.
1. People who have had little self-reflection live life in a huge reality blind spot. – Bryant McGill
2. It seems the great advantage of people who annoy us is motivation to engage in reflection. – Auliq Ice
3. God knows far more about living a life of joy and blessings than we do. – Randy Loubier
4. One travels more usefully when alone because he reflects more. – Thomas Jefferson
5. One travels more usefully when alone because he reflects more. – Thomas Jefferson
6. Knowing your own darkness is the best method for dealing with the darkness of other people. – Carl Jung
7. You attract what you are, not what you want. So if you want it then reflect it. – Tony Gaskins
8. It is always our own self that we find at the end of the journey. The sooner we face that self, the better. – Ella Maillart
9. Without reflection, we go blindly on our way, creating more unintended consequences, and failing to achieve anything useful. – Margaret J. Wheatley
10. Mozart’s music is so pure and beautiful that I see it as a reflection of the inner beauty of the universe. – Albert Einstein
11. Since everything is a reflection of our minds, everything can be changed by our minds. – Buddha
12. Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect. – Mark Twain
13. Did you ever wonder if the person in the puddle is real, and you’re just a reflection of him? ― Bill Watterson
14. I am a writer of books in retrospect. I talk in order to understand; I teach in order to learn. – Robert Frost
15. The soul usually knows what to do to heal itself. The challenge is to silence the mind. – Caroline Myss
16. Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves. – Carl Jung
17. Life is unpredictable, and I feel, to some extent, lighting and cinematography should be a reflection of that. – Rachel Morrison
18. People of the world don’t look at themselves, and so they blame one another. – Rumi
19. Your life is a reflection of your thoughts. If you change your thinking, you change your life. – Brian Tracy
20. The past can’t be changed, can it? It can just be forgiven. – Elizabeth George
21. If you are offended by a belief that says you can’t have your own definition of God, be alarmed at yourself! The implications are humbling, if not embarrassing. – Randy Loubier
22. Everyone and everything that shows up in our life is a reflection of something that is happening inside of us. – Alan Cohen
23. Without deep reflection one knows from daily life that one exists for other people. – Albert Einstein
24. Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom. – Aristotle
25. One of the saddest things in life, is the things one remembers. – Agatha Christie
26. The writer’s curse is that even in solitude, no matter its duration, he never grows lonely or bored. ― Criss Jami
27. One does not meet oneself until one catches the reflection from an eye other than human. – Loren Eiseley
28. Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it’s time to pause and reflect. – Mark Twain
29. In silence and movement, you can show the reflection of people. – Marcel Marceau
30. Follow effective action with quiet reflection. From the quiet reflection will come even more effective action. – Peter Drucker
31. Believing doesn’t make God real. Unbelief doesn’t make Him disappear. Your opinion doesn’t change reality. – Randy Loubier
32. Reflection is a flower of the mind, giving out wholesome fragrance; but revelry is the same flower, when rank and running to seed. – Desiderius Erasmus
33. In a free society, government reflects the soul of its people. If people want change at the top, they will have to live in different ways. Our major social problems are not the cause of our decadence. They are a reflection of it. – Cal Thomas
34. Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards. – Søren Kierkegaard
35. People who have had little self-reflection live life in a huge reality blind-spot. – Bryant McGill
36. Our power lies in our small daily choices, one after another, to create eternal ripples of a life well lived. – Mollie Marti
37. Our past is the key to the next stage in your life. – Rendon Noel
38. Can you remember who you were, before the world told you who you should be. – Charles Bukowski
39. By three methods we may learn wisdom. First, by reflection, which is noblest. Second, by imitation, which is easiest and third by experience which is bitterest. – Confucius
40. Excellence is the gradual result of always striving to do better. – Pat Riley
41. Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself. – Leo Tolstoy
42. Sometimes, you have to look back in order to understand the things that lie ahead. – Yvonne Woon
43. You are a mirror of yourself in others. Whatever you want, give. Be the best reflection of yourself. – Karen A. Baquiran
44. I could have just received royalty checks every month by lending my name to a collection, but I didn’t want to do that. My name is a reflection of me. – Nicky Hilton
45. There is music in words, and it can be heard you know, by thinking. – E.L. Doctorow
46. To achieve happiness, I advocate four major principles. The principles of love, wisdom, self-reflection, and progress. – Ryuho Okawa
47. Living in a way that reflects ones values is not just about what you do, it is also about how you do things. – Deborah Day
48. No matter how good teaching may be, each student must take the responsibility for his own education. – John Carolus
49. Good looks are not something you earn. But as you get older, how you look is a reflection of the life you’ve led. – Diana Quick
50. Reflect upon your present blessings — of which every man has many — not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some. – Charles Dickens
While these reflection quotes can help get you thinking, it’s essential to put aside some time to go deep within. Create a quiet, distraction-free environment and journal about your experiences in life and the lessons they have taught you.
Often, self-reflection will uncover negative aspects of yourself. Exploring your faults may feel uncomfortable, requiring courage to admit your wrongdoings. However, giving yourself constructive feedback is what sparks personal growth. Even so, be sure to reflect on your strengths and good qualities, acknowledging the times you have achieved something great.
