# Introspection and Extrospection By:: [[Brian Heath]] 2024-02-01 There are two components when one reflects upon one's situation or series of encounters. The first is introspective. Here, one asks themselves questions about themselves. Am I the problem? Did I do something to cause this? What was my role in this? The second is extrospective. Here, one asks questions about others and the system. Why are these people this way? What processes resulted in this? Are these people responding as themselves or as agents of the organization? One could boil down these two components into one question: Am I messed up, or is everyone else? While this question is tempting and valuable to consider, it is probably not the best one to start or end with as it infers a singular responsibility: the individual or everyone else. In all likelihood, it is both. Organizations, society, and individuals are innately flawed within any conceived value system. So, when one reflects, one should consider all possibilities. The challenge is not falling exclusively into either side. It is easy to think one is the primary problem and only focus on that. After all, one can only control one's actions. This is a powerful mindset for personal survival but provides little perspective beyond the status quo. In other words, pure introspection is necessary, but more is needed in finding one's way to meaning. Of course, the alternative hole to avoid getting stuck in is thinking everyone else is the problem. The downfalls of this approach are much easier to understand. Here, one takes no personal responsibility for the role one plays. As the saying goes, people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. Keeping grounded that both cases are likely true allows one to explore meaning and progress more fully. Unlike the pure introspection or extrospection views, the middle or synthesis offers no promises of concrete answers. If one grew up in a society or education system that only provided right and wrong answers, this can create significant anxiety and paradoxes. This uncomfortableness means one is growing. Over time, one will find that the truth lives wherever one finds the paradox. Eventually, one will seek them out and deal with the messiness of life head-on. #### Related Items [[Reflection]] [[Progress]] [[Paradox]] [[Introspection]] [[Extrospection]] [[Beliefs]]