Self-guided enquiry is a way to reflect on personal questions and thoughts, helping you understand yourself better and gain clarity. It allows you to develop personal insights that can guide your decisions and actions.
self-reflection, self-directed enquiry, personal enquiry
Self-guided enquiry is a way to reflect on personal questions and thoughts, helping you understand yourself better and gain clarity. It allows you to develop personal insights that can guide your decisions and actions.
Check out our safety recommendations.
Ensure you have some uninterrupted time to spend on this practice.
Grab your preferred tools for writing or taking notes.
Clarify exactly what you want to work on today.
When you are ready, head to our Practice Guides and get started.
Looking for detailed practice guides? Hang tight, they are coming soon!
Imagine having the ability to navigate your thoughts, beliefs and experiences with intention, leading to profound insights and personal growth. Self-guided enquiry is a powerful tool that allows you to do just that. Unlike passive reflection, this practice involves a deliberate, structured approach to exploring your emotional landscape. By posing specific questions and critically analysing your responses, you can uncover hidden patterns, resolve internal conflicts and gain clarity on issues that matter most to you. Whether you're seeking to understand a particular behaviour, challenge a belief or explore a recurring thought, self-guided enquiry empowers you to become your own guide in achieving greater self-awareness and personal development. Ready to dive deep into your own mind? Let's explore how to start your self-guided enquiry practice today.
Incorporating self-guided enquiry into your routine can definitely enhance your mental health, offering deep insights and fostering personal growth.
Enhanced self-awareness
Emotional well-being, Self well-being
Improved emotional regulation
Emotional well-being
Greater clarity and focus
Self well-being
Increased problem-solving skills
Intellectual well-being
Stronger personal growth
Self well-being
Socrates
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Trevor Noah
Person
Richie McCaw
Sports
The Alchemist (Novel)
Book
Before you dive in, take a moment to slow down and focus. Self-guided enquiry is a thoughtful process that requires patience and honesty. The following sections will guide you through key aspects of this practice, helping you approach it with the right mindset for meaningful insights.
There are several approaches to this practice, and it's worth exploring them to find which one suits you best.
Reflective enquiry
Critical enquiry
Creative enquiry
Metacognitive enquiry
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Set clear boundaries for your enquiry to avoid becoming overwhelmed.
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Ensure you have a support system in place, such as friends, family or a therapist, to discuss any difficult emotions that may arise.
🤔
"I’m feeling stuck, but where do I even begin?"
📝
"What patterns keep coming up?"
😬
"Am I getting anywhere with this?"
😌
"I’m starting to see things more clearly."
😊
"I have new ideas to try."
Are you ready to start self-led enquiry?
We are busy working on detailed getting started guides and individual practice guides to follow.
Wondering how to approach this activity for the first time? Let's compare two different methods: self-led (using online guided sources) or as part of a group (in real life).
Compare
Recommendation for first-timer
2nd pick
Not picked
Availability
Widely
Moderately
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Average cost per session
Free or low cost
Moderate costs
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Special equipment required
None or minimal
None or minimal
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Potential for socialisation & community
Mostly solo
Highly social
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Safety & skill building
Mixed results
Safe & fast
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Space or privacy required
Minimal
Some required
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Ease of scheduling
Very flexible
Need to plan
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Setup time
Little to none
Over 30 mins
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Active practice time
Up to an hour
An hour +
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Unexpected advantages
Random
Wholesome
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Educational podcasts like "TED Talks" often promote self-guided inquiry as a way to explore new ideas.
“The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing.” - Albert Einstein
Self-guided inquiry is popular in modern video games that encourage exploration and problem-solving, like "Minecraft.”
Self-guided inquiry is common in fields like astronomy, where amateurs often make discoveries.
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4 facts
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6 memes
Association of Self-reflection With Cognition and Brain Health in Cognitively Unimpaired Older Adults
Demnitz-King, H., Gonneaud, J., Klimecki, O. M., Chocat, A., Collette, F., Dautricourt, S., Jessen, F., Krolak-Salmon, P., Lutz, A., Morse, R. M., Molinuevo, J. L., Poisnel, G., Touron, E., Wirth, M., Walker, Z., Chételat, G., & Marchant, N. L. (2022). Association of Self-reflection With Cognition and Brain Health in Cognitively Unimpaired Older Adults. Neurology, 99(13). https://doi.org/10.1212/wnl.0000000000200951
Efficacy of Self-guided Internet-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in the Treatment of Depressive Symptoms
Karyotaki, E., Riper, H., Twisk, J., Hoogendoorn, A., Kleiboer, A., Mira, A., Mackinnon, A., Meyer, B., Botella, C., Littlewood, E., Andersson, G., Christensen, H., Klein, J. P., Schröder, J., Bretón-López, J., Scheider, J., Griffiths, K., Farrer, L., Huibers, M. J. H., … Cuijpers, P. (2017). Efficacy of Self-guided Internet-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in the Treatment of Depressive Symptoms. JAMA Psychiatry, 74(4), 351. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2017.0044
Strengthening resilience in over 50’s: a nested clustered-randomized controlled trial of adaptive systematic self-reflection
Crane, M. F., Kho, M., Kangas, M., Griffin, B., Karin, E., Earl, J. K., & Harris, C. B. (2020). Strengthening resilience in over 50’s: a nested clustered-randomized controlled trial of adaptive systematic self-reflection. Anxiety, Stress, & Coping, 33(6), 623–641. https://doi.org/10.1080/10615806.2020.1768375
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7 research pieces
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