As its name suggests, reflective writing is a way of reviewing what you have learned by writing about it. To reflect means "to bend back." But writing also helps you move forward. New ideas develop as you turn your thoughts back to what you have learned.
What is reflective writing?
Reflective writing is a tool you can use to "interact with new information," according to Kim Douillard. You can think of reflective writing as what you learned + your reaction to it.
Reflective writing is not purely personal, because you write in response to new information. Suppose that you learn that psychologist John Gottmann can predict whether couples will stay together with over 90% accuracy. The key to a lasting relationship: having at least 5 positive interactions for every 1 negative interaction. In a reflective writing, you might explore whether you believe Gottmann's findings are credible or how you could use his research on the job.