Okay, so today I wanted to really understand “introspection” for my AP Psychology studies. It’s one of those terms that sounds fancy, but I wanted to get a real feel for it, not just memorize a definition.
First, I grabbed my textbook and read the official definition. Something about “examining your own thoughts and feelings.” Sounds kinda vague, right?
Then I decided I needed to do it, not just read about it. So, I set a timer for 5 minutes. My goal? To just…think. Seriously, that’s all.
- I closed my eyes.
- I focused on my breathing.
- Started with simple questions for myself.
At first, my mind was all over the place. “What am I gonna have for dinner? Did I remember to reply to that text? Ugh, I’m so bored.” Lots of random thoughts. I tried to just notice them, like watching clouds drift by. No judgment, just observing.
Then I start to focus on deeper questions, like, “Why do I feel stressed, even when I don’t think I’m stressed?” I noticed a slight tightness in my chest. I realized I’d been clenching my jaw without even knowing it.
I started to think about my day. I remembered a conversation with a friend that felt a little…off. I hadn’t really processed it at the time, but now, thinking back, I realized I felt a little hurt by something they said. It was a subtle thing, but sitting here, in silence, it became clear.
The 5 minutes were up. I opened my eyes and jotted down some notes. It wasn’t some huge revelation, but I definitely felt like I understood myself a little bit better. I also see a clear path for how I could improve my understanding of myself.
My Takeaways
- Introspection isn’t about finding big answers. It’s about noticing the small stuff.
- It’s about being curious about your own internal experience.
- It takes practice! My mind wandered a lot at first.
- It is very benefical to do.
I’m definitely going to try doing this more often. Maybe not every day, but a few times a week. It’s like a little mental check-in. And it actually helped me understand that textbook definition a whole lot better!
