Introspection is like the activity described by Plato when he asked, “…why should we not calmly and patiently review our own thoughts, and thoroughly examine and see what these appearances in us really are?” (Theaetetus, 155)

I’m no psychologist, but to my knowledge and experience, what makes introspection significant is the fact that it’s an honest one. It’s a common wisdom that we never know what lies deep inside one’s heart and thought. We never know exactly what others may feel. When facing a confrontation involving others, the best we can do is to examine our situation, our position, our feelings, our thought, and decide what mistakes we might have done, or what contribution we might have contributed to a situation that leads to conflict. It is a chance where we can be honest with ourselves, something that we might not do in front of somebody else. Because, as Dr. House always says, people lies. It’s fact of life.

I never like conflict personally, although I do understand it is a fact of life, something that we just can’t avoid, we got to live with. Not that I try to please others to avoid conflict, rather I tend to choose not to do anything that may trigger a conflict with anybody. When it comes to conflict, there is a tendency in me to try to think it thoroughly, review it, and see what I might have done that may cause the conflict. I have been thought that most likely what causes problems in our life tends to come from in the inside, rather than from the outside world. And for that, it is imperative that we examine our inside first, before trying to confront or blame others.

And as good as an introspection can be, it is a tiring exercise. And what’s more frustrating is when you’re involved in a conflict with a person who always think that it’s the opposite party is responsible, that he/she’s not the one to blame. Have you ever been in such situation?

I do wish, people do introspection regularly. That way, conflict could be resolved way faster than ever. I wonder, when will that time comes.

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