Talking to oneself: using autobiographical internal dialogue to critique everyday and professional practice

Abstract

This article explores how autobiographical narrative about everyday activities can stimulate critical reflection. A re‐interpretation of Schön’s stages of reflective practice is used to explore some examples from autobiographical writing about the everyday practice of carrying a bag to illustrate literary devices which enable self‐interrogation and internal dialogue. Such writing can mimic the dialogue with a peer or coach to generate new perspectives and sometimes change in habitual practice. Implications of using both reflection on everyday life and creative autobiography for the development of professionals are finally discussed.

Keywords:

• self‐critique
• internal dialogue
• everyday practice
• autobiography
• reflection

Acknowledgments

PATT (People and Their Things) was an interdisciplinary international research project and I wish to thank the members of the team who read drafts of this article and provided encouraging feedback. My appreciation also goes to the reviewers for their constructive comments.