<aside> ❓ Why reflection is important in the context of habits and identity-building?

</aside>

Downside of habits:

• Automation of habits allows for further improvement on top of those habits, but in automating things on a daily basis (i.e. less effort or thinking needed to process habitual action), we became less self-aware of the impact of those actions/the big picture.
  • As a result of automation, I might stop paying attention to little errors.
• Automation of habits = identity reinforcement ("you are what you do repeatedly"), but leads to the danger of being too brittle in holding onto one identity. In words of Paul Graham, "keep your identity small" (spread out, don't let a single identity define you)
• Automation of habits = mastery of a skill, but leads to the danger of being too comfortable - slipping into trap of complacency.

"A lack of self-awareness is poison. Reflection and review is the antidote."

Reflection and review makes me once again, aware of the big picture. I am reminded of how my small habitual actions are playing out/supposed to be playing out in the big picture and able to review if I am climbing up the wrong tree.

In practical terms, reflections help with these:

• Crucial periods of refinement - as it prevents gradual slide that happens when don't play close attention to habits and current progress.
• Annual reminder to revisit desired identity and consider how habits are aligned.
• Indicate when habits need to be upgraded and take on new challenges, or when need to dial efforts back and focus on fundamentals.

<aside> 💡 Two yearly reports to conduct reflection and review.

</aside>

Each December, conduct

Annual Review

Reflect on precious year by tallying habits for the year. Reflect on progress by answering 3 questions:

1. What went well this year?
2. What didn't go so well this year?
3. What did I learn?