Join the Internal Selfie Revolution
Have you joined the selfie revolution? Since Robert Cornelius took the first selfie in 1839, humans have been fascinated, if not obsessed, with snapping images of themselves. People now take selfies for many reasons, such as telling a story and capturing memories.
Did you know that people have been taking internal selfies since time immemorial, well at least several thousand BCE? It’s called meditation! It’s nothing mysterious or fancy. All you have to do is turn your camera inward and snap a picture of your current state of mind: What do you see?
Some early forms of meditative introspection included ritual dance, reciting mantra, and sitting crossed-legged under a Bodhi tree. Today, the meditation movement has captured the world’s attention. We are learning to turn our minds inward everywhere from the gym, yoga and tai chi class, the office and at our desks, in the classroom, and the boardroom.
Ready to begin your own mindfulness journey? It’s easy. Get your camera and join the Internal Selfie Revolution! Here’s how to start your practice today.
The Psychology of the Selfie
Why do we retake our image multiple times in order to get it just right before hitting send? On a superficial level, a selfie is casual, easy way to communicate a snapshot of yourself in-the-moment. It may be used as verification or to document change. However, a selfie also give us valuable information. From a selfie we can assess our:
- Appearance
- Thoughts
- Emotions
- Feelings
How to Take an Internal Selfie: The Basics
Now try turning your camera inside. Take a peek into your own brain. Let your Internal Selfie develop into an image or sensation – it might have a distinct shape, specific texture, or even a splash of color. Examine your internal snapshot as it manifests: try not to judge, reject, embrace or explain it. Just look at it directly and be curious!
Six Questions to Ask Yourself When Taking an Internal Selfie
- What’s going on inside of me?
- What thoughts and emotions are driving my current behavior?
- How do I feel about myself?
- Am I distracted or focused on what I’m doing?
- Am I nervous or calm?
- Do I feel tired or full of energy?
Internal Selfies Lead to Mindfulness
Sometimes, we are reluctant to turn our awareness inward because we are afraid of what we might find. Turning inward is challenging: criticism, judgment, and disappointment may arise. However, turning inward is a significant step towards mindfulness through awareness and self-acceptance. Taking that moment or pause before reacting or responding is the essence of the Internal Selfie and a reminder to live in the present.
Pause: Snap an Internal Selfie
- Assess what you see, free from any judgment or concept
- Do your thoughts, emotions, nervous system or feelings need any attention?
- Take appropriate action to effect the change you want (more on this later)
- Follow-up with a second Internal Selfie
- Is the retake any different from the first Selfie? How have you changed?
About the Author
Stanislav Grof And His Famous Holotropic Breathwork
If you’ve ever stared into the backs of your eyelids and breathed white light into your navel, you’ve done breathwork. Breathwork is a new-age term that refers to rejuvenating breathing techniques aimed at awakening the body’s life force. In many circles, breathwork is a key modality utilized to inspire peacefulness, healing, and the embodiment of the divine. Stan Grof, MD, Ph.D., a clinical psychiatrist from Czechoslovakia and one the founding forefathers of research in transpersonal psychology for non-ordinary states of consciousness and the therapeutic potential of LSD, has turned breathwork into a psychedelic, and the benefits are profound.
Dr. Grof says his “holotropic” technique, i.e., turning or directing inwardly or healing toward wholeness, helps practitioners expand their consciousness through rapid, repetitive breathing.Â
Naysayers regard this activity as potentially dangerous, noting that it resembles hyperventilation. Regardless, thousands of people throughout the world claim Grof’s technique has reduced their stress- and mind-related ailments, and helps them access the inner wisdom of their bodies and core Self.
“Meditation is to understand that one breath connects all beings.”
― Amit Ray
