Self-Understanding Part 1
September 22, 2025
Self-Understanding Part 1
Join us for this week’s reflections on “Self-understanding.”
We are complex creatures, so to understand ourselves in depth may be daunting. Not only are we continually changing, but we also have multiple aspects and layers within ourselves. Many of us know our outer self, yet do not explore our depths. But amazingly, in our depths are wondrous aspects we hardly know and therefore never enjoy or express.
Gina thought little of herself. She put herself down and was a wallflower at parties and social gatherings. She was excited about her boyfriend and looked forward to becoming closer to him and felt the relationship would boost her self-esteem. One day Gina was crushed by her boyfriend who suddenly called off their relationship. Heartbroken, she withdrew into a depressive state. One day she hit bottom and realized that she was thinking of harming herself. This scared her, so she did something to shake her out of the mounting depression. She joined a yoga class. In just that simple act of joining a yoga community, Gina found a new relationship ... not with another person but with herself.
Gina had two profound spiritual qualities in her soul that arose during her crisis, and these saved her life. The qualities of self-compassion and resilience.
The yoga exercises, poses and meditation opened Gina to a new sense of herself. Renewed by yoga, she learned about her inner space, the depth of her imagination, and her strength. She connected to her body which she had neglected. She met friends in the class who shared growth experiences with her and encouraged her to explore more of her depths.
In just a few months, she had grown leaps and bounds in self-knowledge. She met a wonderful friend who shared her journey, and they later married. Gina said that she is so glad her boyfriend of several years ago broke up with her because it was the new beginning her soul was calling for.
Spiritual practice: reflect on your own struggles. What did you consciously do to get yourself out of this? What was the spiritual quality that saved you from despair?
Self-inquiry: Why would you like to know more about your deepest self?
Prayer: Dear God, Let me pry loose and lift all obstructions to knowing my true nature. I realize the journey is infinite, but I do not want to merely skim the surface of my being. Grant me a voyage into my soul from where I may love more deeply, including caring for myself. Amen.
