This note was published as part of our reflection on our upcoming book : The Pondering Leaf: The Journey of a Surfer.
"Talk to yourself once a day; otherwise you may miss meeting an excellent person in this world," - Swami Vivekananda.
In teleology, the effect is explained by an end. It focuses on the outcome of an action and determines morality based on whether the result is good or bad. In deontology, " I " focuses on the nature of duty and obligation. Whether one follows a consequential (teleology) or adherence (deontology), ethics-based virtues such as courage, temperance, and justice, or religious-based virtues such as faith, hope, and love, appreciation of and understanding of inner conversation happening within one's Self is imperative to build a sense of higher awareness.
Appreciation of inner dialogues helps an individual to develop a reflective, conscientious mind. Such a mind can create an imaginative vision and make contextual decisions more effectively and harmoniously.
There are eight parameters of a reflective mind:
The ability to experiment,
accept and own up mistakes to /failures (It is okay to err, but not okay to repeat the errors),
having fun in whatever we do,
question the status quo,
re-learn and share,
innovative (creating something new, not copying work),
seeking constant feedback and
ability to work with the least resources.
What is a dialogue? It makes it impossible to think with a closed mind. In a competitive conversation, people are more concerned about their perspective, whereas, in a collaborative conversation, people are interested in the perspective of everyone involved.
Dialogue has the following
Mutuality
Equality to express divergent views
External perspective
An inner conversation is a transforming experience. In the process, it attempts to:
Ascertain what true knowledge is?
Understand new ideas and
Understand the nature of the inquirer herself/himself.
Therefore, the first element of self-expression is to have an internal dialogue to be ready for external dialogue. It is a conversation within a conversation.
How can we make the inner conversation more meaningful?
Appreciate the reality. People are always poised between two opposing tendencies: the up-going creative process (Pravrtti) and the down-going destructive process (nivrtti). When the perplexed mind knows not where duty lies, the Self has only to commune within his Self, since true knowledge in these matters is to be found within the self".
Welcome differences and explore them
Search for the underlying meaning.
Slow the pace of dialogue. Pace it with pauses.
Be empathic to oneself: We must be aware that we tend to make an 'error of compassion' as the mind gets confused about the various moral values. We need to appreciate the elements of nature -
Cold, heat, pain, and pleasure come and go eternally. We need to understand and endure them.
Suspend assumptions; do not judge.
Observe & listen to one another.
Allow taboo subjects to be raised in a safe environment.
Listen to our inner voice: Engaging with our inner dialogue is akin to tuning into a radio station broadcasting our thoughts, emotions, and sensations. While this internal narrative can be a source of constructive insights, it also has the potential to veer into negativity, manifesting as self-criticism or doubt. Acknowledging and understanding this inner voice can help us gain valuable insights into our mindset and behaviours. Techniques such as sensing and reflection practices offer tools to navigate this internal landscape, allowing us to pause, shift our perspective, and cultivate a more positive and empowering inner dialogue. Through intentional awareness and practice, we can harness the power of our inner voice to foster personal growth and well-being.
Happy Conversation!
Ref.: The Pondering Leaf: The Journey of a Surfer
The Surfer assessment (www.soulsearchhr.com/assessments/)
Sources: Berne's Theory of Transactional Analysis, V Petrovkiy's Multisubject approach, Shimelev's Beyond the Drama Triangle: The Overcoming Self
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