Self-inquiry

Self-Inquiry

Learning to meditate, although challenging for some, brings peace and tranquility in the midst of our busy lives.  To practice contemplation and write in a journal brings answers we were not expecting and clarity to our current issues.  On the other hand, self-inquiry can create tension, frustration, anger and static energy.  

Self-Inquiry is one of the Niyamas from the Yoga Sutra; Svadhyaya.  Svadhyaya means self-study.  Self-inquiry is the act of studying yourself.  This requires the act of asking yourself the questions necessary to work through your blocks such as; why am I so angry?  The process of self-inquiry is the most challenging of any practice that generates awareness.  It is certainly the most uncomfortable.   

Self-Inquiry Steps

1. Identify the area in which you wish to work on yourself.  Ie. Anger, relationship patterns, financial etc.
2. Ask yourself; how is this pattern/experience serving me?  What is it teaching me?
3. Identify what you have learned from this experience or pattern and write down actionable steps you can take to honor what you have learned.

I will use a specific example.  I have a temper.  I used the process of self-inquiry to identify how anger was serving me.  I wrote down in my journal what happened when I got angry, why I got angry and asked the question; what was anger providing for me that I could not provide for myself? The response from my ego was that anger serves no one.  Anger is bad. However, after meditation and contemplation I realized that when I got angry, I pushed everyone away.  Why was I doing this?  Anger was serving me.  Anger was providing a boundary for me when I could not.  It was a major insight into my life patterns.  I chose to honor my anger by learning how to say no and create functional boundaries in my life.  Eventually my temper waned.  Now when I get frustrated and notice my temper rising; I am aware, almost instantly, that I have allowed my boundaries to be overstepped and it was time to look at my commitments.  

The art of self-study can help you understand the patterns in your life; why you need them and how to break the pattern.  Once you are able to overcome the ‘destructive emotions’ that arise with self-inquiry; you will find release, acceptance and forgiveness.