Do you take a few moments out of your day to reflect? If you don’t, you are not reaching your full potential as it is crucial to your ongoing growth and development.

Studies show that reflecting even for a few minutes a day greatly improves your quality of life. This is because the act of reflecting allows your brain to pause in the midst of chaos, untangle and sort through observations and experiences, assess numerous possible interpretations, and create meaning. This meaning is then transformed into learning, which can be used to shape future mindsets and actions.

Although, this process can lead to valuable insights and even breakthroughs, it can also lead to feelings of discomfort, vulnerability, defensiveness, and irritation which is something not many people desire. However, through all this is how one can reach their full potential. Reflecting brings enlightenment which can lead to new actions shaping you and even your surroundings for the better.

Reflecting has many benefits but it may still seem a little daunting to start. Let’s break it down into small actionable steps:

1. Select a reflection process that works for you. This could be sitting, walking, biking, or standing, alone or with a partner, writing, talking, or thinking.
2. Set time aside for reflection. It’s good to start small so even 5 minutes is a good start.
3. Everyone reflects in different ways. You can briefly go through your entire day and reflect on it or even use different prompts such as:
   • What were today’s amazing moments?
   • Am I achieving the goals that I’ve set for myself?
   • How could I have made today even better?
   • What are my goals/plans for tomorrow?
   • How am I feeling? Happy, okay or sad?

You can find more prompts here!

At first doing this can feel a little strange because it is something you aren’t used to doing but remember it will get easier overtime and will ultimately help you reach the best version of yourself!

Source: https://hbr.org/2017/03/why-you-should-make-time-for-self-reflection-even-if-you-hate-doing-it

Here at the PSG, we are proud to share some of our 2021 highlights found when reflecting this past year:

• Held 29 informative events online
• Launched our new website
• Revamped our branding
• Launched our Industry Directory enabling members to grow their professional relationships and help companies grow their visibility throughout the pharmaceutical industry using an interactive platform via the PSG website
• Introduced the Industry Pipeline, a monthly informative publication which highlights current events in the Biopharma Industry
• Started new initiatives to bridge the gap between academia and the industry ensuring students get the assistance they need to thrive once they enter the pharmaceutical industry by introducing the FREE student membership and creating a Student Scholarship and Student GMP Package
• Donated $2500 to Ka Ni Kanichihk Inc., an organization based out of Winnipeg Manitoba which provides education, job-skills training, support for women and families and mentorship in their local Indigenous Community
• Donated $5000 to HPIC enabling them to distribute $50,000 worth of medicines to a vulnerable community
• Welcomed two new Board of Director members, Liane Smith and Jeffrey Hartry
• Laid the groundwork for our new Computer Based Learning platform which provides on demand self-paced virtual training accessible from any location and can even be customized for larger teams and individual company needs

It wasn’t until we started reflecting on the past year that we realized how much we had accomplished. Without a doubt reflecting helps you grow and reach your full potential and part of this is because it allows you to see all your progress and accomplishments which will only drive you forward. What’s stopping you from reflecting?