Close both Eyes to see with the ‘Other’ Eye
“One of the marvels of the world is the sight of a soul sitting in prison with the key in its hand.” ― Rumi
The presence of countless distractions in this world prevents us from fully appreciating the depth and splendor of our inner world. So often in life, we get caught up in these distractions. It’s only upon careful reflection that we unravel our emotions, thoughts, beliefs, and deeper truths.
“Know thyself”
Why?
To do away with cognitive distortions.
How?
By temporarily detaching ourselves from the external world and delve into our soul. The soul transcends the limitations of the physical realm.
The route to true awakening is found within the journey of self-discovery. When we shift our focus from outside diversions to the deeper territory within our being, we can step into the divine essence of our existence.
“Your heart is the size of an ocean. Go find yourself in its hidden depths.”― Rumi
“Know thyself” through Introspection:
- Who am I?
- Why am I here?
- Why did I come to earth?
- Who I can be?
Introspection is not the understanding of our individual psychology; it goes beyond mere contemplation and getting trapped in our thoughts.
Think of Introspection as your mirror. Position yourself in front of it. Look into your intentions, desires, habits, abilities, shortcomings, fears, anxieties, and whatnot. However, don’t be wary of it. Think of it as a comforting friend, whom you need to hold onto.
Allocate just five minutes each day to assess your daily activities from an impartial standpoint. Remember our intention to go deeper with introspection could boomerang on us if we’re not impartial.
“Know thyself” through Self-reflection:
- Look within to gain insights into the origins of our feelings, such as anger, frustration, helplessness, as well as the motives behind our behaviors.
- Inner reflection allows us to confront our imperfections, take accountability for our inappropriate behaviors, and address the primary cause of our challenges at hand.
- It enables us to acknowledge that personal mistakes, rather than external circumstances, might be to blame.
- It also reminds us to express gratitude for the blessings we have.
“You have learnt so much
And read a thousand books.
Have you ever read your Self?
You have gone to mosques and temples.
Have you ever visited your soul?
You are busy fighting Satan.
Have you ever fought your
Ill intentions?
You have reached into the skies,
But you have failed to reach
What’s in your heart”
― Bulleh Shah
Reflect to deflect
Make time for quiet reflection. Self-reflect by looking back. Reflect on behaviors to create a deeper understanding of the present. This certainly helps to view past situations from a more balanced and grounded perspective.
However, things are not quite that simple. Like all good dramas there’s also a twist in this tale.
Without a great villain, one can’t be a great hero.
And the best villain award goes to our very own Not-So-Great friend…
‘THE EGO’
Human ego always feels hostile towards self-reflection, because self-reflection is a fight with ourselves. We have to face our vulnerability. That’s just part of the deal.
And at the end of the day it’s our call to succumb to the discomfort or embrace it.
Let go of your unconscious ego or let it run your life…
Ego is not bad.
Is it good? Probably. As long as, less is more.
If ego is one’s sense of self, then having an ego is a natural part of human consciousness.
Like a gunman has to be in control with a weapon. Similarly, ego is a weapon to be used wisely rather than letting it run the show.
Letting go of ego involves looking into all facets of oneself and their interconnectedness. Many of us are willing to own our lighter sides, but that doesn’t represent the entirety of who we are.
Deep-rooted wounds are often get pushed into the shadows of our subconscious mind. By bringing to light those repressed parts, we challenge ourselves.
“The universe is not outside of you. Look inside yourself; everything that you want, you already are.”― Rumi
The vastness of the universe is deeply intertwined with our existence. We can find everything we are looking for by focusing inward.
The outside world is simply a mirror or manifestation of our inner essence.
We must understand that we are already whole. Shift your gaze from the material world and engage with the boundless potential that exists within us. In doing so, we can align with our authentic self.
