There is much intrinsic value in mastering the art of self-reflection.
As we grow beyond our five-sense worldview and begin, in earnest, a multisensory journey toward wholeness, we must become more introspective and resilient.
Each of us has an Internal Guidance System (IGS) that works similar to the global positioning system in our vehicles. As we seek and find clarity of purpose, our mind maps will recalibrate accordingly, allowing us to trust and depend on our IGS to pave the path to spiritual maturity, authenticity, and wholeness.
We experience our IGS through our emotions. They are the most accurate and accurate predictors of who we are and where we are at any given time. When we honestly and candidly examine our emotions, we are better able to control the direction of our lives, change gears, and alter course if we don’t like what we see in ourselves.
We spend an inordinate amount of time evaluating the people around us and making judgments about them and their circumstances; all the while doing your best to avoid any effort remotely resembling self-assessment or self-reflection. We run through life, rarely stopping to assess our progress. There is absolutely no spiritual value in judging others. It’s wasted energy that leads to an endless downward spiral.
Our path to spiritual maturity must begin with a willingness to take our eyes off others and turn them inward. We should make it a personal quest to continually and objectively evaluate our thoughts, feelings, words, and actions. We must accept responsibility for the inner work required to self-correct. By paying careful attention to our emotions, we gain much-needed insight into who we really are.
The most common strategy we employ to avoid self-reflection is busy work. We clutter our days with extensive “to do” lists, filling them with mindless activities that have little or nothing to do with living life on purpose and to the point. We skim the surface of our personalities and identities and rarely face our true feelings because most of the time our feelings are intertwined with unpleasant emotions like anger, envy and jealousy. Rather than face this harsh reality, we create a complicated web of lies about someone else’s imperfections to avoid our own shortcomings.
Most of us accept the premise that we are called to serve humanity. At some level of our being, we understand that purpose transcends personal agendas and requires that we engage in selfless activities. However, to be an effective servant, we must tap into the divine source within us to realize the vast spiritual possibilities that life offers.
Developing the habit of self-reflection requires discipline and brutal honesty. Some rely on journals and journals, others meditate, while still others pray for guidance to help them develop the skills necessary to enjoy thoughtful introspection. Personally, I like to use the drive home from work to piece together my day and see how close I came to realizing the ideals I’ve set for myself. I use this quiet time to take stock of the emotions I exhibited throughout the day. If I’m not happy with the evaluation, I apologize and pray for another chance to get it right.
Human beings have been created to expand and be productive. We are at our best when we are supportive and positive. The worst examples of our humanity come from our negativity and judgmental attitudes. To empower our IGS to do what it is designed to do in our lives, we must be willing to let go of ideologies, personality traits, behavior patterns, and emotions that contradict our growth and development goals.