What does it mean to be reflective?

To be reflective means to have habit of thinking deeply about experiences, feelings, actions, and ideas, taking time to examine and learn from them rather than acting impulsively or without thought. A reflective person engages in introspection, asking questions like what happened, why did it happen, how did I feel, what did I learn, and what would I do differently next time. Being reflective involves self-awareness, contemplation, and metacognition, thinking about own thinking. In everyday life, being reflective might mean journaling about day, reviewing conversations, or considering impact of actions on others. In learning, being reflective means connecting new knowledge to prior experiences and evaluating understanding. Literally, reflective can also mean surface that reflects light, like reflective vest that shines when light hits it. But psychologically, being reflective means being thoughtful, introspective, and willing to pause and consider deeper meaning of experiences for personal growth and improved decision making.