After teaching a class on change management, a woman approached and shared with me her story of weight loss attempts. For 17 years, she had documented her experiences in journals. The surprise in her story is that when I met her, she was taking time to read through those journals to discover from her own documented “experiments” what worked and didn’t work in losing weight. Her effort was truly impressive. 

Often, when we want to change a behavior, we look outward. We buy the next book, pill or potion that promises results in 10 days or less. We ask others who’ve lost weight, “What did you do?”, hoping we’ll hear something new, something easier. 

This woman reversed direction. She was looking inward and was fortunate to have her own words to study and ponder. Before rushing forward again, she was diligently searching for what she already knew. She was becoming her own best expert.

Even without journals, reviewing your knowledge and experience with any behavior is worth doing before you take your next step. For example, if you want to get more physical activity, a great place to begin is to survey what you already know about yourself and physical activity. 

These questions can guide your exploratory review:

• Why does this behavior matter to me? How do I benefit from it?

• When was I successful at doing this behavior? 

• What were the variables that contributed to my success?

• Why did I stop? What happened? 

• If I wasn’t successful, can I identify what got in my way?

• Are there specific gaps where I need to learn more?

• Knowing what I know now, what should be my next experiment?

Reflecting on my history with physical activity, here’s some of the things I discovered: 

• I feel better, emotionally and physically, when I get at least 30 minutes of activity in the day. I feel a distinct difference when this doesn’t happen in the day.

• My best success has come from taking a class in the morning. Classes are in my schedule, can’t be postponed, and I like not having to think, just follow directions. During covid, I learned I can even do on-line classes.

• Strength building is a high priority for me because I need to be able to lift heavy things. 

• I need to give myself credit for the activity I do in my house and yard. I don’t need to be wearing stretchy pants for movement to count!

• When the class teachers or times change, it upsets my routine, and I haven’t adjusted very well. This is when I’ve stopped being consistent. 

• I need to identify good alternatives for when there are class changes.

This was a fun reflection to do. I have an entire page of ah-ah’s and each one added clarity to what I know about myself, physical activity, and what creates success. These personalized lessons came from years of experience and are more valuable than anything else someone could have told me.

Try This

Sometime soon, pick a topic that’s on your mind, then make a list of what you’ve learned from your experience about that topic. Maybe it’s about gardening or menu planning or forgiveness. Use the review questions to guide your exploration and discover what you already know. Be as specific as possible and have fun. You’ll discover you know more than you give yourself credit. 

This is also a useful tool to share with others when they come to you for help. Encourage them to begin with what they already know from past situations that could be applied to the current one.

Summary

“We do not learn from experience…we learn from reflecting on experience.” – John Dewey

To become your own best expert:

• Start with what you know–what you’ve learned from experience.

• Look inward, before outward.

• Never begin from scratch again. Your life is rich with knowledge, ready to be tapped.