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, in their own way. Although difficult, self-examination is often the starting point for healing or growth.
Within the Twelve Steps is Step 4, which can be connected to the idea of self-examination. Step 4 specifically asks a person to take a moral inventory, stating that as part of the 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 typical way that someone may work their fourth step in an AA context 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 it has impacted yourself and others and underlying patterns or motivations so that the person moving through the process has a full understanding from which to move forward. Step work in general is not a solitary process and is moved through with a sponsor to guide the person embarking on the journey.
Svadhyaya has less of a specific process, and doesn’t necessarily require the involvement of others, but it does offer 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 in some ways very 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.
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?
