Personal Reflective Writing and AI
2026-03-09
by Becca DeKay-Robson
Personal Reflective Writing and AI
2026-03-09
by Becca DeKay-Robson
Recently, I was ruminating while editing a personal history manuscript. The particular portion of text that had my brain spinning described the regularity with which the storyteller went to the movies during World War II. At that time, it was extremely common to attend the movie theater at least once a week for entertainment, as well as for the news coverage and updates on the war.
The questions circling my thoughts were: What was the public attitude toward the advent of film, and how did it evolve as film production and subsequent technologies advanced? Do our attitudes today compare to those in the past when new tech was introduced?
Still photography to silent film, to moving pictures with sound. Black and white television to color. From computers that required a whole room to house them to household computers, and then to small pocket-sized “computers” we call smartphones. The internet, facial recognition. All of this and more has progressed in the past 100 years, and the pace of progress has increased exponentially.
As I was browsing the internet to answer the above question regarding the historical public perspective on advances in technologies, it seems that as various technologies have been introduced through the ages, the general public has reacted in a similar pattern, starting with initial shock and moral panic, and progressing to normalization and cultural integration. Technologies have evolved, and we, as humans, have adapted and evolved right along with them. We are repeating the same cycle with different players.
In today’s world, the new tech and buzzword on all our tongues is AI, or Artificial Intelligence.
Reflecting on our historical social pattern of reaction to new tech and applying it to today’s innovations, the question many of us have is, do we need to view AI with fear and stay “an arm's length away” at all times, or perhaps go to the other extreme and incorporate it into every aspect of one’s life?
The answer to both of those is a resounding “No.” In most situations, the middle of the road is often the answer.
As with everything, we need to be prudent and proceed with intention, with an open mind to the pitfalls of this new tech, while making room for its unique contribution to our modern way of life.
I recently attended a GAB Chat with the Birren Center for Autobiographical Studies on the subject of “AI and Guided Autobiography.” Guided Autobiography (GAB) is a method developed by Dr. James E. Birren in which an individual is guided in writing their personal life history, focusing on the transformative power of reflection and introspection. The presenters at the GAB Chat, Lily Bengfort and Leigh Morrow (The Story Guides), made the point that while we have been using AI-assisted tools for quite a while (spellcheck, anyone?), Generative AI is the new seat at the table, and, like most things, it has its pros and cons. Evaluating the purpose of use should be considered prior to jumping in.
Lily and Leigh stressed that, in writing that requires combining experience and reflection, the end goal is not necessarily the product itself. The goal of this work is the transformative power that comes from re-experiencing the events as they are shared and examining them through the lens of the present, resulting in reflection. This can lead to wisdom and growth; it can help us identify the roots of why we are the way we are. These deep reflections are not something that AI can replicate on the personal level. Yes, it can create something beautiful that appears authentic, but the incredibly personal journey, reflection, wisdom, and growth are missing.
I recently had a conversation with a local high school English teacher. I asked him how he deals with Generative AI in the classroom. He said he tried all the micromanaging strategies that many other teachers employ - having students handwrite essays, check length of time working on the computer, etc. He has settled on a strategy that seems most successful, is not top-down-heavy, and invites his students to be non-perfect humans. When they turn in a paper that sounds like it was written by AI, his comment is something to the tune of, “It sounds like AI, it doesn’t sound like you.”
As a society, it appears we are increasingly trying to appear perfect while hiding our flaws. Product advertising, photoshopping, diet crazes, performance-enhancing drugs, and body-altering surgery all push the same message. We use social media to edit our lives, and we can now create fictionalized photos and videos of events that never really happened. We are constantly under a barrage of narratives that tell us we aren’t good enough as we are. That we need to be perfect to be accepted by society. Generative AI can accelerate this message.
These very flaws that we spend so much time concealing are an integral part of being human - imperfect, messy, and prone to mistakes. These mistakes and imperfections are often the vehicle of growth. Hiding our nature behind a false wall can deprive us of essential introspection and acceptance of who we are, and hinder self-discovery.
Our goal should be growth, not perfection.
If we can choose that, we will discover that we are beautiful human beings just as we are.
Does this mean that no one should use AI in their writing? One attendee in the GAB Chat (I regret not catching his name to credit him properly) shared a perspective that stuck with me: writing is a transformative process that results in a product. Some will choose to use AI to refine the product, but we should not mess with the process.
Creating human-authored personal writing is an authentic and deep experience. We should not shy away from embracing the imperfection of being human and tap into the transformative power of a reflective journey.
How to use AI is a personal decision. While Generative AI has many uses, creating personal reflective writing is not one of them.
Your story requires you to be the storyteller.