J. M. Johnson Consulting

Hello and Happy New Year! Since the New Year began, many of us have been focusing on having 20/20 vision, clear vision and perfect vision.  I like that analogy!  I really do!  The more I thought about “2020” vision and clear vision, the more I felt inspired to write this short post.

My vision is almost 20/20 with corrective lenses!  Yes, I wear bi-focal lenses so that I can see as well as I do.  My interpretation of 20/20 vision is outward facing vision or extrospection.  Extrospection is how we observe things around us that are outside of our own mind.  Extrospection entails looking at the things, people and situations outside of us that drive our thoughts and trigger us to act and feel a certain way.  Extrospection is extremely essential to coming up with ways to interact with our environment.

Introspection is also essential.   It is inward facing vision. Introspection is just as important and much more difficult to attain.  It brings to mind the “Man in the Mirror” song by Michael Jackson.  When was the last time we were truly introspective, not looking at our environment or those in it as being the cause of our situation or circumstance?  So often we look outside of ourselves for the answers, reasons, excuses, explanations, measures of goal attainment or perceived success or “failures.”

Introspection involves continuous self-evaluation and self-assessment.  Introspection involves asking questions like: “Why did I respond that way?” “What are my feelings about this?” “Why did I behave this way?” “Are my values my values or are they values of my family or origin?”  In other words, how well do we know ourselves?  How often do we dig deep to understand ourselves?

I am full of questions today!  What is your purpose?  What is your motivation?  What are your fears, passions and philosophies? We must take a personal inventory.

Extrospection is necessary but means absolutely nothing without introspection.  The two go hand in hand.  We have the ability to have 20/20 vision in 2020 if we only put as much emphasis on the inside as we do the outside!  Here’s to great introspection and extrospection in the New Year!!!  Cheers!

Jennifer McClellan Johnson, MBA, MSSA, LISW-S