Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom, said a wise soul once. I continue the train of thought I expressed in my last blog post… another thing that we had time for during the lockdown was to introspect and really think about life. As we slowed down, literally and figuratively, we had the time and the inclination to examine ourselves and our lives. So why and how should we introspect?
Introspection in the yogic lifestyle
Introspection is important from the yogic perspective. The yogi is enjoined to follow certain ethics or rules such as nonviolence, truthfulness, moderation, simplicity, discipline, cleanliness and so on. Among these rules the yogi must practice, is Swadhyaya or self-study, which is introspection.
Introspection helps us understand why we feel the emotions we do: anger, frustration, helplessness and why we behave the way we do. Through introspection we can face our limitations and our flaws, and take responsibility for our own unwise actions. This lets us honestly confront the reasons behind the problems we may have in life. We can admit that we ourselves and not external factors may be responsible for them. Further, introspection helps us realise the many blessings in our lives and reminds us to be grateful for these. So for instance, introspection could bring realisation that one is at least partly responsible for, say a disagreement with a spouse or a professional issue.
How to introspect
Journaling or writing a diary/private blog can be a useful way to introspect. Write about things that make you happy and about things you find depressing or saddening. You could list out X reasons to be grateful in life: your family, good health, financial situation, home, job etc. Another entry in your journal or blog can consist of your own good and bad points as you see them. Now juxtapose these with the good and bad points that others say you have. For instance, you may think of yourself as honest and straightforward, others may call you tactless or abrasive. Who is right? This exercise could help you find out who or what is responsible for the problems you face.
Another way to introspect is to check yourself before saying or doing something. Think about the consequences and the impact it could have on others. In other words be more mindful of your actions. Practicing compassion is also a part of introspection. If you put yourself in the other person’s place you will find yourself becoming less judgmental and more insightful. Forgiving is another aspect of introspection. Not holding on to grudges and grievances can be extremely liberating and uplifting. In the end, introspecting is about self-awareness and personal growth.