“Know thyself” has been a key existential invitation from Grecque philosophers and different psychological, religious and spiritual practices have contributed to shaping the concept of self-observation as a way to support this quest.
To understand the power of self-observation, it is important to mention awareness (or lack of) and patterns in the way individuals connect to themselves, others and the world around. Sometimes, it could feel like there is a loop or a sense of repetition in human experiences that it is difficult to break. However, observing oneself can help in loosening the grip of these loops while making room for curiosity, openness and learning.
In the development of the concept, different contributions have tried to break self-observation down to make it understandable. For some, it is about studying oneself and perhaps failing, at the beginning, because it takes time to create space for self-observation in people’s internal experience. The study of the self requires gathering data by observing, without judgement; then, some understanding begins to emerge about patterns of thought, emotions and body sensations.
Like any other skill, this could be learned through trial and error. One way to support this effort is by directing the attention towards what the person wishes to observe while having the attention also on oneself (the observer). This could look like watching, without judgement, a silent film in which the spectator is the main character but without getting lost in the movie, able to watch while remembering who is watching and how.
Myriam Hernandez M.A., R.P., is a psychotherapist at the Centre for Interpersonal Relationships (CFIR). Myriam provides psychotherapy to adults and couples experiencing a wide range of challenges including interpersonal relationships, anxiety or depression, loss and grief. She works using an integrative approach that draws from different theories and interventions to conceptualize cases and develop treatment plans tailored to the needs of each client.
