Introspection vs Extrospection

Vernon Hiller - SGP Columnist | This article looks at the value of introspection and how much we often turn to extrospection for answers to our problems or emotional issues.

By: Vernon Hiller for Sankarsingh-Gonsalves Productions

Photo by Fares Hamouche on Unsplash

Back in the 1930’s, there were many people around the world who supported Hitler’s radical right wing Nazi ideologies. Martin Niemöller was one of them. He was a German national, antisemite, and Lutheran pastor, who, although initially supportive of Nazi policy, had a change of heart when they began implementing state control over Germany’s Protestant churches. For his opposition, Niemöller was imprisoned in various concentration camps from 1937 to 1945. During those years he was “given” the time he needed to reflect and develop an appreciation for the honest answers that introspection often provides, and by the end of the Second World War he had made a transformative switch. He began arguing that by not speaking out, all Germans had been complicit in the atrocities of the Holocaust. His famous quote which he modified over the years to fit the issues of the day, initially stated;

First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out; Because I was not a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out;      Because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out;  Because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me; and there was no one left to speak for me.

Many of us have engaged in introspection on occasion. But what we seldom ever hear used is the term extrospection. Somewhat ironic, because being defined as “examining what is outside yourself,” makes it a practice much more widely used. Introspection on the other hand, while often mentioned, is not practiced nearly as much. Surprisingly, not everyone is into it. Some find it a scary proposition.

Unlike extrospection, introspection takes more work. It requires a willingness to peel back the layers of our persona to get to the heart of who we really are and why. The truth is, for those willing to take the leap, they sometimes don’t like what they find. The deeper they go, the tougher the questions get. Why do we believe in certain things? Where do those beliefs or perceptions come from? How were they instilled in us? What foundations are they built upon? The answers can be even tougher to hear, and this is why we often choose to externalize our problems. Rather than question ourself, and ask what perspectives might make us interpret them as problems, we choose to look outside.

It is so much easier to blame others or a circumstance than to point the finger at ourselves. The ease of this choice makes us very susceptible to anyone offering something or someone else to blame for our problems. It’s an attractive alternative to turning the mirror on ourselves, and one that people have chosen time and again throughout the ages. Countless leaders over the years have made blame their tool-of-choice for steering the masses and getting them onboard with their agendas.

Hitler was democratically elected by blaming the Jews for his country’s woes and promising to make Germany great again. There have been those who blamed immigrants, black and brown people, Mexicans, socialists, and many others for the societal or economic troubles they faced. All they needed was someone in power to confirm what they were already feeling, and suddenly such feelings became legitimate, or at least worthy of expressing publicly. But how much credibility and influence would such feelings have if those feeling them had the courage to critically examine and challenge such perceptions? Extrospection protects our ego, introspection encourages us to grow beyond that.

It has been my experience that those who so readily look outside for groups to blame, have a tendency to simplify matters. They often claim an issue can be broken down into simply being black or white. They minimize the complexity of certain problems by proclaiming that “you’re either with me or against me.” These individuals also tend to argue that if they were able to make something of themselves, then there is no reason other than laziness why others can’t do the same.

What these people share is an unwillingness to be introspective. We have all worn masks or built facades at one time or another to fit in or protect ourselves from unwelcome judgement or ridicule. But sometimes, we create such protections to shield ourselves from discovering what lies deep within. The reason it is so hard for us to critically examine our own thoughts, words and actions, is because we are the easiest person to lie to or convince of an untruth.

The practice of introspection offers us many opportunities. Regardless of your education, socio-economic status or place in this world, the one thing we all have the power to direct is our own perception and by extension, the ideologies we adopt.

Introspection is like an excavation of your hidden self. It offers you an opportunity to build emotional intelligence and better understand how emotions direct actions. It enables you to process what you’ve learned and bring forward deeper insights so as to develop better responses when challenged. By being honest with yourself, you are better able to keep an open mind, see another person’s perspective, and not feel threatened. Finally, by learning to critically examine your values, you give yourself permission to realign your actions with them.

If what lies within us is just a microcosm of everything outside ourselves, then by getting to know ourselves, we become better at seeing ourselves in others. Our interconnectedness with others is strengthened. By taking the time to reflect daily, we can achieve a greater, more balanced understanding of not just the world within ourselves, but also the world outside. When we reflect, we grow from within. This becomes the foundation for building our authentic self, and that is the power of introspection over extrospection.

About the author: Vernon Hiller is a decorated District Chief of Operations with the Toronto Fire Services and has served the city for over 36 years. He is a Board member with LEADR - a charitable non-profit organization dedicated to providing literacy tutoring for adults in Durham Region. - Having struggled with ADHD as a child, Vernon is passionate about helping others discover the potential that hides within them.