Intellectually, I am keenly aware that I should objectively evaluate what went wrong through an after-action review (AAR), engage in a learning activity, communicate why what I’ve learned will produce different results in the future, and implement a change to my standard work (i.e., the current set of best practices) to reduce the likelihood of recurrence. Reality can be quite different. It’s easy to allow feelings of inadequacy to cloud my judgement. It’s easy to wallow in the valley of despair. It’s easy to throw a pity-party and remain “stuck.” A vicious cycle can ensue in which being “stuck” leads to more misses and feelings that you just can’t do anything right.

First, most businesses function better when the economy is stable, and fiscal policy has a major impact on economic stability. Yes, there are businesses that thrive on chaos, but those are the exception and not the norm. The vast majority of us value reliability, predicability, and high-functioning governmental entities and policies that support business growth and consumer well-being. Fights about the debt ceiling do neither of these things.

Remember, self-reflection is about you and your continuous improvement journey. If you find yourself focusing on others, pointing fingers, or wallowing in self-regret, you’re not engaged in self-reflection. That’s a pity party. Nobody likes to receive an invite to a pity party!

Unfortunately, there are all manner of societal pressures that make self-reflection difficult. Some label it as “fluff” or “weakness.” Some surround themselves with so many external voices and stimulation that the concept of self-reflection is foreign and uncomfortable. I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve succumbed to the narrative that “tough guys don’t reflect.” I’ll also be the first to admit that becoming more in tune with yourself through meditation and reflection is one of the best things you can do for yourself.

This past Thursday, we launched our six part series, “Nobody Wants to Think Anymore” with a kickoff episode featuring my co-host, Dan Strafford. In this series, we’ll be interviewing business leaders from various industries for practical advice on what critical thinking means to them, how critical thinking is applied within their sphere of influence, and what it takes to build critical thinking skills.

The process of getting to know yourself is difficult, but deeply satisfying. Self-reflection and personal planning exercises are two important tools to understand and employ on the journey toward greater self-awareness and enlightenment. In this muse, we’re going to take the promised deep dive into the concept of the personal A3.