#51 Introspection

Introspection is not a word we hear very often. Google defines it as the examination or observation of one’s own mental and emotional processes.

Characteristically, most people utilize it at least in part after doing or saying something stupid that may bring a quick reaction in kind from the unsuspecting target. We might think to ourselves, that wasn’t good…why did I even do that? Unfortunately, there is no re-wind and we’re stuck with it having to apologize up and down.

The meatier version of introspection however is reserved for dealing with your emotions after a personal trauma of some kind. It’s a sacred space you create to commune with your higher self or spirit to ask the deeper questions relative to what just transpired in your experience. It can be very revealing due to the fact that the most important question you’re looking for answers for is, “what was this trying to teach me?”

Now there is no right or wrong way to approach introspection. The important thing is to let yourself go there in some fashion. A research study at the University of Iowa showed that journaling as a therapy was most effective when subjects not only recorded their emotions following a trauma but when they also took the time to think about and write down what they learned from the event. The focus on understanding their own reactions to what happened, in addition to the emotional impact of the experience helped them recover faster.

From a spiritual perspective, this makes perfect sense. Life is a series of lessons, courtesy of our most faithful teacher, the Spirit within, otherwise known as your Higher Self. All our experiences are designed to help us discover and live the truth of who we are. However, attendance at this school of life is not mandatory. It requires a willingness on our part to engage in introspection and explore the meaning behind our experiences.

Not everyone is up to it. Some want to avoid thinking about it altogether; others want to wallow in the story to develop the “poor me” syndrome. The brave, however, bring themselves around to asking the question, “What is the gift in this for me?” Discovering this gift can bring a person out of victim consciousness into a space of receptivity and teahability. This is when spirit rushes in, excited that we’ve accepted the invitation to grow.

Being able to center yourself and look for the gift in any difficult situation sooner rather than later demonstrates spiritual growth. It is without shame that I can confess to utilizing this valuable concept on more than one occasion over the course of my lifetime. The lessons have been many and sometimes hard and fast to say the least. I have been hurt to the core in some cases even most recently, but upon closer examination it wasn’t me that was hurt, rather it was my ego. Fortunately for me at this juncture of my spiritual walk I’ve learned to separate myself from the ego and claim my oneness with the God within me. This puts a whole new spin on the trauma itself. It’s all a part of my soul growth.

Oh, there’s hurt there, and that’s no joke for sure and we have to not just recognize it, but then forgive it and let it go. That’s all part of being incarnated in physical life which makes these lessons “real”, at least seemingly.

To be clear, there is a vast difference between ruminating, which is what most people automatically do verses introspection. In ruminating, a person is simply replaying the event, thinking about the wrongness of it, wishing for a different action or outcome, and just generally considering all the bad or frustrating aspects of a situation. In introspection, a person asks the Higher Self what lesson the event offers and what tools can apply to grow spiritually from the situation. Introspection then plants the seeds for a different experience in the future.

Our life experiences are as unique as our fingerprints or personalities. Fundamentally however if we can understand that every experience is a valuable lesson, some positive, some negative. The fruit of introspection is in our ability to look into the seemingly negative ones and grow in a positive direction. And just so you know, you signed up for this life experience and everything that goes with it. There are no accidents, and there is no blame.