What Is Introspection? - It's A Self-Analyzing Technique

Last updated by Katie M.

I always thought I was in tune with myself and that I knew myself really well! That’s what I said to myself a few years ago before spending several weeks looking introspectively at my inner self. I realized that I wasn’t actually listening to my thoughts! From that point onwards, my journey of self-analysis hasn’t finished, and is still very much ongoing. There are benefits of introspection, so I will explain what it’s all about and above all give you tips to self-analyze successfully.

What Is Introspection? - It's A Self-Analyzing Technique
Contents: 

What does introspective mean?

Introspection in psychology simply means looking at your inner self. It means being attentive to what is going on inside us: our feelings, thoughts, who we are, etc. The term introspection also includes all the methods of turning towards your inner world. In psychology, it’s an observation and analysis method, with a view to studying your own self. Thanks to introspection, we get to know ourselves perfectly.

What are the benefits of introspection?

“Get to know yourself”

For psychotherapist Paul Diel, this exercise of self-analysis ensures the regulation of “your inner life”. It is necessary for our happiness because it enables us to know our needs, learn to love ourselves and accept who we are.

🧠 Moreover, self-analyzing helps us to live better with others. Indeed, being better connected to what we feel gives us the possibility to better manage our emotions and our reactions to others. Edgar Morin, a French philosopher, explains that self-examination allows us to understand our own weaknesses, which makes us better able to understand those of others. It therefore allows us to develop more empathy and to be more attentive to ourselves and those around us. So how do you go about introspection?

How to perform a self-analysis? 6 introspection exercises to carry out

There are many introspection techniques, such as mindfulness meditation. We turn to our thoughts and can better interpret things in our lives. We become witnesses of our mental and emotional states. However, it’s not the only solution. Here are 6 exercises to know how to perform a self-analysis:

1. Pay attention to your thoughts

This exercise is very similar to meditation; being aware of your thoughts allows you to better understand yourself. You need to admit the content of your thoughts, which is sometimes a very difficult exercise to do. However, thanks to this, you can learn to spot negative thoughts, self-deprecation, anxiety, etc.

We need to take several minutes every day to pause our brains in order to observe our thoughts. It’s not necessary to go into a state of meditation, but it is good to sit down for 5 minutes to think about it all.

2. Keep a journal

Yes, a journal! Like when you were a teenager and had a diary. It’s actually a very good exercise because it allows you to put all your thoughts and problems onto paper. You can even write down your goals and dreams, just like with a bullet journal. It allows you to notice a lot of things: are you at a dead end? Are you managing to achieve your dreams?

It’s also possible to keep a gratitude journal to keep track of the positive aspects of your day and get rid of the negative thoughts.

3. Question your own perception

Sometimes, we interpret things without necessarily thinking about them, which leads us to jump to conclusions. Introspection enable you to be more in tune with yourself and with others.

For example, if you see a friend for a coffee and find her strangely silent, you may come to the conclusion that you’ve done something wrong. Nevertheless, it’s not necessarily the case. She may be upset because she got some bad news just before meeting up. You should always ask yourself if there are several possible explanations.

4. Listen to your emotions

What we feel can help us understand who we are and how we function. Why did we feel such an emotion after an event? By listening and interpreting, we better understand our reactions.

For example, if we feel sick to our stomach when we see our partner talking to someone else, it means that we’re under stress. But why? This stress can be representative of jealousy or fear of abandonment. We fear that our partner will find this person better than us. There’s therefore a lack of self-confidence to work on.

> Because yes, those around us are not responsible for our emotions, it’s up to us to work on them. This allows us not to be a toxic person for others.

5. Identify your values

Self-analyzing is also putting your finger on the values that are important for you: politeness, honesty, optimism, self-confidence, friendship, success, faith, kindness, a sense of justice, etc.

You must identify them to know how to be in tune with them. If you go against one of your values, especially one you’re not aware of, it causes cognitive dissonance.

For example, if you’re worried about animal welfare and eat meat, you may develop an eating disorder because of the guilt. It may therefore be a good idea to become a vegetarian to be in line with your values. It works for a lot of things! Moreover, our values evolve as we go through life, which is why you must pay attention to them.

6. Turn to your dreams

There are dreams that correspond to our life dreams, but there are also dreams that we have at night. Dream interpretation can be a solution to discover our unconscious desires. Indeed, they’re sometimes a slip of our mind about something we didn’t know how to detect when we were awake. Interpreting your dreams allows you to listen to your subconscious, which never lies.

Editor’s note: Not always an easy exercise

Introspection isn’t an easy exercise. If you don’t success, there may be limiting beliefs or fears, conscious or not, that are holding you back.

🤗 Understand yourself, accept yourself, be happy... Let’s do it here and now!

#BornToBeMe


Be sure to check out these articles too:

Article presented by
Katie M.

🌻 Discover the world through my eyes.

Did you like this article?

Want to know more 🤔 ?
Write directly to the author
KatieM. !

Ask Katie a question

Want to share your thoughts? Leave a comment

This helped a lot, thank you so much for helping me get on track with my journey. Much love!

Dakota, 3 years ago

Read our latest articles here:

What Are The 6 Types Of Narcissism?

There are a whole range of narcissistic personalities out there, and they scale from highly toxic to rather positive (surprising, right?!). That being said, most mental health experts agree that there are 6 types of narcissistic profiles, which whilst they may all be based on an inflated sense of self-esteem, they are in reality all drastically different, and more or less severe. When it comes to dealing with this type of personality disorder, it’s best to know what you are up against, in order to react appropriately, as well as to avoid falling into their traps and becoming their latest victim. After all, knowledge is power, and that’s never be truer than in this particular context.

10 Weird Things Narcissists Do Sexually - Romance Is Dead

As with many things in life, narcissists also have unhealthy relationships with sex and treat it as nothing more than a self-gratifying activity. After all, manipulation, control, and emotional abuse are their so-called trusty weapons that they hide behind in most circumstances, so why wouldn’t they call on them in the bedroom too? The bottom line is people with this personality disorder are used to getting what they want and will only ever put themselves and their pleasure first, which doesn’t bode well for a healthy sex life. 🙈 Discover the weird things narcissists do in the bedroom and what you should do if you are involved with one.

Are Narcissists Born Or Made? - Let's Settle The Debate

There you have it, the nature vs nurture debate is back, only this time I want to focus it on those deviously manipulative personalities we refer to as narcissists. Now, evidently these folks get bad press and rightly so because they are often at the root of plenty of harm, but is it really their fault? Can they really be blamed for their terrifying and perhaps inherent traits, or are they simply just products and in this case victims of their environments? Let’s settle this debate once and for all and figure out how and when this disorder becomes apparent. So, are you born a narcissist or is it developed?

Why Your Boyfriend Gets Defensive When You Talk About My Feelings

Relationships are never exactly straightforward, and at points, a crystal ball wouldn’t go amiss when it comes to understanding what your partner’s reactions are hiding. Now, sadly not all of us own a trusty crystal ball, but our experience when it comes to love is just as precious in analyzing potential pitfalls related to emotions. This may sound a little cliché, but us girls love talking about our feelings, whether that be about when we are falling in love, or when we are feeling sad. Yet some guys get really defensive whenever these serious topics come round, here’s why.

How Long Will A Narcissist Rebound Relationship Last?

Narcissist rebound relationships generally last anywhere from 6-months to a year. Now, whilst the timeframe depends on each individual, these twisted personalities usually head into these relationships with a plan in mind, meaning they know exactly when and where they'll break things off. Plus, when they are in the final stages of a relationship with you, they are no doubt in the process of grooming their next victim. That's right, the need for a constant narcissistic supply means that they aren't likely to date any one person for an extensive period of time. For them, they require fresh blood every 6-months or so because they simply get bored. Let's take a look at the reasons why they keep their rebounds short, but not so sweet.

Is Sleeping With A Colleague Or Your Boss A Dangerous Game?

I’ve had a crush on someone at work before. Honestly, if I hadn’t found out later that he was in a relationship, I’d have gone all out to seduce him. Except that we all know the “No sex at work” rule, which means that it’s a bad idea to sleep with a colleague, or worse, your boss! Is it really that dangerous a game? What do you risk if you’re caught in the act? I’ll explain it all to you (yes, I did my homework before going for it)!

I’m Having Doubts About My Relationship

This happens often. Since life in a relationship, and even love, are never a smooth ride, of course, I have my doubts 😵‍💫. Not on the same wavelength, the impression that the grass is greener on the other side, different plans… Under the weight of doubts, love loses its splendor. Can it be fixed? I don’t think so, but the important thing is to know how to react.

What Is Candaulism?

Now, many of you are no doubt scratching your head wondering what candaulism means, but some of you must already know by now, and that would explain the recent spike in Google searches for the term. Candaulism is in fact a sexual practice in which a man exposes his female partner or photos of her, to other consenting people. This particular fantasy is therefore associated with exhibitionism. Although that’s not all, the term can also apply to a male partner watching his girlfriend or wife making love to someone else. So, let’s take a peep (get it?) at this practice.

Create a Peaceful Living Space

For years, I didn’t really take care of my home. Not that it was dirty, but there was no particular decoration, and most of all, a lot of clutter. Then one day, I decided to do a major decluttering! I thought it would be a dreadful task, but in the end, I realized that organizing my apartment also helped clear my mind. We often overlook this, but having a peaceful living space truly makes a difference!

Mature Love: How Do Relationships Evolve Over Time?

They say that love is like fine wine: it evolves, matures, and becomes even more delightful with time. I say "they say," but in reality, I’m certain of it. Even though I’m single as I write this article, I’ve experienced long-lasting love stories, and there’s nothing quite like reaching mature love—the kind that provides security and support. That’s why today, I want to talk to you about how romantic relationships evolve!



Wengood's favorite tunes 🎵

Wengood's playlist

wengood

  1. Only LoveBen Howard
    4:08
  2. Invalid date
  3. Fix YouColdplay
    4:55
  4. Beautiful DayU2
    4:08
  5. Thinking out LoudEd Sheeran
    4:41
  6. White FlagDido
    4:00
  7. Lay Me DownSam Smith
    4:13
  8. Nine Million BicyclesKatie Melua
    3:17
  9. Put Your Records OnCorinne Bailey Rae
    3:35
  10. Summertime SadnessLana Del Rey
    4:24
  11. Imagine - Remastered 2010John Lennon
    3:07
  12. Shake It OutFlorence + The Machine
    4:37
  13. Space Oddity - Love You Til Tuesday versionDavid Bowie
    3:46
  14. What A Wonderful WorldLouis Armstrong
    2:17
  15. With Or Without YouU2
    4:56
  16. HelloAdele
    4:55
  17. Don't Stop Me NowQueen
    3:29
  18. Skinny LoveBirdy
    3:21
  19. WingsBirdy
    4:12
  20. Californian SoilLondon Grammar
    3:41

How to detect a narcissist

How to detect a narcissist

How to soothe an anxiety attack

How to soothe an anxiety attack