Fall Club Magazine_2022_J_a

down the road of unproductive rumination, but following up with insightful interrogations helps us to develop the kind of self-awareness that actually empowers. Slowing Down and Cultivating Mindfulness In addition to cultivating mindfulness, asking what instead of why makes it easier to identify our emotions and manage thembetter. Evidence demonstrates that actively decoding our emotions and translating them into language arrests our f ight- or-flight response to stimuli, helping us stay composed, in control, and more equipped to tackle challenges with clarity. And indeed, when we slow down to think and feel purposefully, when we make a concerted effort to immerse ourselves in genuine introspection, we stop rushing back to what was. In fact, we stop rushing at all - rushing as the rapids of modern life do and crashing down steep slopes with little control over our lives. We begin to flow like f resh streams through lush, forested greenery; espousing the kind of peace, quiet power, and nourishment we - and the world - need to truly thrive.

Soastheseasonof f reneticfun that was Summer transitions into the more cogitative and tranquil season of Fall, it’s the perfect time to relax a little and take yourself on a journey of enlightening and transformative introspection.

improve ourselves. However, engaging in introspection isn’t enough to induce meaningful transformation; how we approach introspection is manifestly important. Beyond Asking Why When we assess and make observations f rom a place of pensiveness, we’re often asking the question “why” - “Why do I feel this way”, “Why are my relationships as such”, “Why am I not progressing as quickly as I would like”, and so on. And asmuch as understanding “Why” is part of the process of examining ourselves, it can leave us feeling victimised if we don’t also ask ourselves “what” - “What emotions am I experiencing”, What is eliciting these feelings”, or “What can I do to more sensibly respond to the situation at hand”. Asking why might make our limitations more apparent and daunting, but asking what helps us to acknowledge our potential and keep us focused on solutions. The “why” perspective mires us in the past, while that of “what” motivates us to create a better future. In other words, introspection alone can lead us

22 THE AMERICAN CLUB SINGAPORE