Self-reflection is an interesting issue. This essay will explore two aspects of self-reflection: the issue of public self-reflection and it's impact to the individual and others, and secondly the issue of self-reflection and it's relation to politics and this website. These things might seem diverse, but all return to a fundamental question: what does it mean to reflect upon yourself and the world around you?

Self-reflection can occur at many levels, and it most certainly does not have to be public in nature. I will only consider public self-reflection though, as I am a writer, and writing for the public forces us to think logically and carefully on what we want to reveal, and how we want to see ourselves, and possibly more importantly: how we want others to see ourselves.

The notion of public self-reflection as free association seems to be challenged by the problems of public self-reflection. There are many such problems, which I list below.

Problems with Public Self-Reflection

The most obvious one is that anything you say can be used against you. When you say something in public, people use that to judge you, to think about you, and ultimately to describe you. Words reveal a lot about an individual, and in some cases, even things that the individual does not understand for himself. Psychotherapists are experts at reading meaning into words that individuals alone can not see, but they certainly are not alone: almost anybody is in one way or another less blind then you are.

Another significant problem is while you reflect, others might not be able to understand or understand differently on what and how your reflecting. I've pondered on the problem of communication and the understanding of words in the past, in an article called The R.D. Laing Problem. Personal reflection is directly tied to one's experience, which amplifies the problem of experience as the basis for understanding: the level of raw experience differs from person to person.

A third problem with self-reflection is connected to the second. People who read your self-reflection might become angry, scared, or disown you for your words. They might not understand what your saying, and view your words to be threatening, insane, or even angry. This can lead to any number of things, the least severe being a damange to a friendly relationship. Words can carry a lot of weight, and misunderstanding them can be very destructive.

The final aspect of public self-reflection is it's often dishonest, as people tend to change who they are when they are in public. They define themselves partially to position themselves in a certain socioeconomic economic group, to maintain and build friends, to be who they want to be. In private, they may be more honest on who they are. Still, we live in a public world, and private thoughts and actions are rather useless: it's what's in the public sphere that counts.

Dishonesty and What You Can't Say

The final point needs much greater examination, as what the public prevents you from saying, or forces you to say, colors the way you think and feel. You can not say what you really want, as social pressure denys you the right. Moreover you have to organize your thoughts in ways that everybody can understand. So in the public, you start to ask: are my reflections upon my self really me, or is it a fascade created to impress or inspire?

I can not stress the importance of organization. People naturally think in disorganized ways, but we read and experience our world in an organized way. Disorganization may be fine for the individual, but it will make it difficult or impossible for others to understand. If your not writing a formal paper, you may take some liberties, but you must respect the rules of grammar, and provide some structure that can be widely understood. I am not a grammar 'nazi', and I hate how structure limits how and what I can think, but I know I have to live within it's boundaries to ensure that my thoughts do not fall upon deaf ears.

There are so many fine nuances in the world and so much experience, that I can not describe it well in words. The sky and it's beauty, the individual and his passion, and the ups and downs of the world. Moreover, without experience, all of what one says is meaningless or misunderstood.

Yet You Can Say It: Words for Everyone

Can you say or believe anything you want, if you do it the right way? Yes, you most certainly can, as when you follow modern social convention you are allowed to challenge every idea. Yet, the more controversal the idea, the more neccessary to follow the convention. That notion might make it impossible for you to say anything and everything you want in casual self-reflection, as substanal criticism requires something more.

So it is difficult to describe the nuances of of life in casual self-reflection in a way that avoids causing problems. You can only get so close, and if you want to get closer you have to use well-accepted theories and euthanisms for the real meaning of what you are saying. It isn't easy to reflect in a way that works for all.

Conclusions

Public self-reflection is not an easy thing to do. You have to change the words and meaning to be understood by all, and avoid revealing things in ways that shock or otherwise harm your readership. You have to watch what your giving to your enemies, and realize that you are consciously limiting what you say to make your words acceptable. A good writer meets all the goals laid out in this essay, and criticizes his world in a pointed way.