Self-questioning. It’s a simple phrase, yet profoundly powerful. I’ve been thinking a lot about the value of looking inward through self-questioning. It’s too easy to accept your thoughts and feelings at face value instead of digging deeper to see what you might find beyond the surface conversations we have with ourselves. Not going deeper is a dangerous path. How can you ever know your true beliefs and motivations if you don’t?

Embrace your questions; don’t avoid them. Ask yourself: Why did I get so angry in that moment? Why did I go along with something I knew was wrong? Questioning the dark corners of your mind takes courage, but the rewards are immense.

I know this journey isn’t for the faint-hearted or for those who may be feeling fragile or vulnerable. But if you are of the right mind, the journey is worth taking.

Self-questioning isn’t a comfortable gig. It forces you out of your comfort zone and helps you break free from confining ways of thinking. Through self-questioning, shiny pearls of wisdom can be found. Self-questioning leads to self-knowledge, and self-knowledge will guide you to your life path. At least I feel like I’m getting closer to mine anyway. I’m so glad to have stumbled upon the beauty of practicing self-questioning. It’s the gateway to understanding.

• In the process of self-questioning, how do we differentiate between genuine self-discovery and self-deception?

• Does the pursuit of self-knowledge through self-questioning inevitably lead to a deeper understanding of others, or does it risk creating a barrier between yourself and the external world?