A Powerful Tool to Know Thyself

Though chimpanzees, dolphins, elephants, and even pigeons can recognize their images in a mirror, human beings are the only species with the capacity for introspection – that is, the ability to consciously examine our thoughts, feelings, motives, and behaviors.

The ability to self-examine is uniquely human and one of the vehicles to help us do that is Journaling.

I have been journaling for few years now. I feel good especially when I have a tough day. I write down the feelings, the emotions that I went through and what actually happened. It helps me less ruminate over the event and let go of the emotions. Introspection also helps me decipher if I had been overreacting to a situation and also put some thought on how else I could have handled that particular situation. These learnings come handy when I encounter a similar case. I am much more prepared then.

Interestingly, there is research that shows that writing helps virtually everyone who’s experienced a significant challenge. Not just writing but expressive writing. Psychologist James Pennebaker’s decades-long research program on expressive writing provides powerful direction in finding the answer from within. He advocates writing, for 20 to 30 minutes at a time, on our “deepest thoughts and feelings about issues that have made a big impact on our lives.” According to @Tasha Eurich, author of “Insight” the myriad benefits of expressive writing only emerge when we write about both the factual and the emotional aspects of the events we’re describing. Neither on its own is effective in producing insight. To ensure maximum benefits she says, it’s probably best that you don’t write every day. But reflecting back every now and then and evaluating where you are in life is really important.

Isn’t knowing thyself, the first step in the self-development journey? You will be surprised how many aspects of yourself you will uncover. Start today, realize the greatest benefit of journaling – Know thyself!

Until Next,

Keep Smiling..