Reflection leads to learning!
As 2025 turned to 2026, I did my yearly reflection questions, and I really enjoyed thinking back to what I learned over the past year. I’m not just talking about information but also about life lessons and opportunities for understanding.
The questions helped me to see some short-comings, some need for personal growth, and some victories, too.
Reflection is a great opportunity for clear evaluation, right estimation, and a time to birth new expectations!
I also took time to think through life lessons that I’ve gained over the past 30ish years of adulthood. I cringe thinking back on some of the things I did “wrong” in ministry and in leadership, so I’m glad I’ve learned from those times. I also praise God for the gifts of mentors, dear friendships, and for growth and maturity in myself and many around me.
Five seemed like a good number, so I’ve challenged myself to think through different categories and to share them on my blog or Instagram (@seaglassmission) in lists of five. I hope you’ll learn from what I’ve learned. I’ll share a couple of those lists here:
Five books that deeply impacted my spiritual life: Celebration of Discipline (Richard Foster) Emotionally Healthy Spirituality (Pete Scazzero) Scouting the Divine (Margaret Feinberg) Encounters with Jesus (Tim Keller) Life Together (Dietrich Bonhoffer)
You can find other books I love here.
Five ways to have “better” hard conversations and conflict: 1. When you ask the person to meet, tell them why. Don’t leave them wondering. 2. Consider a walk so you’re side by side. 3. Find something to apologize for or ask forgiveness. It’s very rarely all their fault. Staying humble and self-reflective will cut the tension in half. 4. When having a conflict, remember, keep it about the issue at hand, not the person. Hold out the issue together, and look at it. How can you solve it together? Stay away from the blame game. 5. When the issue is discussed and solved, remember to “not keep a record of wrong.” It might help to say something like, “I’m glad this is resolved, and we can move forward. I promise to not bring this issue up again as a jab or a way to hold it over your head.” Avoid bringing it up as a tool for anger or manipulation.
There’s so much more I’ve learned, and I look forward to more reflection and more sharing!
What about you? What have you learned? I would love to hear from you! seaglassmission @ gmail.com
