10/04/2025
CHAPTER 4: THE LAW OF REFLECTION
Have you ever felt like life is moving so fast that you don’t even have time to process everything happening?
We set goals, work hard, and chase success, but how often do we pause to reflect on what’s actually working?
This is what John Maxwell calls The Law of Reflection—the idea that growth catches up with us when we take time to pause.
Why Reflection is Important
Think about it: Have you ever tried so hard to achieve something, but you weren’t sure if your effort was paying off?
Maybe you’ve started a business, taken a course, or made some big career moves—but without reflection, you wouldn’t know:
✅ What’s working
✅ What’s not working
✅ What needs improvement
Reflection helps us connect the dots between our efforts and results.
John Maxwell says, *“Experience alone is not the best teacher—evaluated experience is.”*
*Four Ways Reflection Helps You Grow**
1️⃣INVESTIGATION: Learning from Experience
Have you ever looked back on a situation and thought, “If only I knew then what I know now”?
That’s what investigation does—it helps you find the lessons hidden in your experiences.
- What worked?
- What didn’t?
- What would I do differently next time?
When you reflect, you can spot the gaps between your effort and your results.
For example, if you started a fitness routine but didn’t see progress, investigating might help you realize you need to tweak your diet or be more consistent.
2️⃣ INCUBATION: Listening and Learning
Reflection isn’t just about asking questions—it’s about sitting with your experiences and letting the lessons sink in.
Think of it like marinating food—the longer it soaks, the richer the flavor.
The same goes for growth. The more you sit with your experiences, the more you absorb wisdom from them.
3️⃣ ILLUMINATION: Gaining Clarity
Have you ever had a “lightbulb moment” where everything just *clicks*?
That’s what happens when you reflect—you start seeing patterns, solutions, and breakthroughs you never noticed before.
Sometimes, we’re so caught up in “doing” that we don’t see the bigger picture.
- Why do I keep repeating the same mistakes?
- Why do certain habits hold me back?
- What am I missing?
Reflection brings clarity and awareness—it’s the moment you realize what needs to change.
4️⃣ ILLUSTRATION: Teaching and Applying
True growth isn’t just about learning—it’s about applying and sharing what you’ve learned.
Ever noticed that when you teach something to someone else, you understand it even better?
That’s because reflection turns experience into wisdom.
And wisdom becomes more powerful when shared.
When you reflect, you’re not just learning for yourself—you’re gaining insights that can help others too.
CHAPTER 5 (The law of consistency)
"Motivation gets you going, discipline keeps you growing"
____John C Maxwell
"If you want to become more disciplined and consistent in your performance, you need to become more disciplined and consistent in your growth"
How to Grow in Consistency
1. Knowing what you need to improve
- self improvement guarantees a future filled with possibilities.
2. Knowing how you are supposed to improve.
- You can begin by matching your personality type
- Start with the simple stuff
- be patient
- value the process
3. Know why you want to keep improving .
When growth is connected to one's values, dreams, purpose, you will know why you are doing it and you will be more likely to follow through.
4. Knowing when you need to improve
Chapter 6 THE LAW OF ENVIRONMENT (The Invaluable Laws of Growth by John C. Maxwell)
Growth Thrives In Conducive Surroundings
"The first step towards success is taken when you refuse to be a captive of the environment you first find yourself In"
___ Mark Caine
1. Assess your current environment
2. Change yourself and your environment
- change yourself but not your environment - growth will be slow and difficult.
- change your environment but not yourself - growth will be slow and less difficult
- change your environment and yourself - growth will be faster and more successful
3. Change who you spend your time with
4. Challenge yourself in your new environment
5. Focus on the moment
6. Move forward despite Criticism
