Self Examination

A connection that struck me over the last week, due to some of the reflections I have been reading, is the interconnectedness between yogic philosophy and the 12 Steps of AA.  Both conceptual lenses talk about the importance of self-examination, or self-study, but in their own way.  Although difficult, self-examination is often the starting point for healing or growth.

Part of the Twelve Steps is Step 4, which can connects to the idea of self-examination.  Step 4 specifically asks a person to take a moral inventory, stating that as part of the recovery process they have “Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.”  Similarly, one of the niyamas from yogic philosophy is svadhyaya, which is translated to mean self-study.

Although these two worlds overlap in their valuing of a process of self-examination, they approach the process in slightly different ways.  A way that someone may work their fourth step in AA would be to write out an inventory including past actions, behaviors, patterns, and character defects.  This work also includes a deeper examination of the inventory once it is finished, including how what is listed has impacted yourself and others as well as underlying patterns or motivations. This is done with the idea to support the person in moving through the process with a full understanding of what has come before so that meaningful change can happen.  Step work in the recovery community is not a solitary process and is moved through with a sponsor/community to guide and support the person who is embarking on the journey.

Svadhyaya has less structured process, and doesn’t necessarily require the involvement of others, but it does prompt us to have disciplined and honest observations of our thoughts, habits and patterns.  It also points out that if we avoid this practice, we are more vulnerable to deceive ourselves and that can keep us very stuck and unable to grow.

I don’t think it is a coincidence that two different communities agree on the importance of self-examination.  This is a process that can be both incredibly challenging and rewarding if we allow ourselves to be fully open and honest. For me, self examination has previously revealed some very difficult and critical voices, all of which were coming from myself, which made them both hard and easy to confront.

The invitation for the coming days is to consider where and how in our daily lives can we consistently incorporate self-study.  Is it through a daily journaling practice?  Through the support or working with someone outside of ourselves like a sponsor, therapist or mentor?  Or is it just starting with a more consistent practice of checking in noticing ourselves without judgement?

Find your own practice of self study, or self examination, and feel through it as it evolves alongside you.