Who Am I? What Am I?
A Layperson’s Guide to Self-Understanding Through Extrospection, Introspection, and the Chetasyog Path
Have you ever asked yourself, “Who am I?” or “What am I?”—not just in passing, but with the weight of curiosity that makes you pause? These questions aren’t just philosophical riddles. They’re the doorway to understanding your place in the world, your inner truth, and your connection to something greater.
But here’s the catch: most people answer these questions from the outside in, not the inside out. They define themselves by what others see, what they feel in the moment, or what they’ve been told to believe. Rarely do they reach the depth where true clarity lives.
This blog explores three layers of self-awareness:
– 🧍♂️ Extrospection – how the world sees you
– 🧠 Superficial Introspection – how your ego sees you
– 🧘♂️ Deep Introspection via Chetasyog – how your soul sees you
And to make it relatable, we’ll use a simple analogy: You are like a smartphone.
📱 Analogy: You Are a Smartphone
Imagine yourself as a smartphone.
– The case and screen represent your external identity—what people see.
– The apps and notifications represent your thoughts and emotions—your reactive self.
– The operating system represents your deeper consciousness—your true essence.
Most people only interact with the case and apps. Few ever explore the operating system. Let’s dive into each layer.
🧍♂️ Layer 1: Extrospection – The External Mirror
This is the outer shell—the case and screen of your smartphone. It’s what others see and what you show to the world.
🔍 Who am I (Extrospective View)?
You are:
– A name on a document 🏷️
– A profession in a system 👨💼
– A nationality, gender, and social role 🧑🤝🧑
– A visible participant in relationships and communities 🧑👩👧👦
You’re defined by:
– Your actions 🏃
– Your speech 🗣️
– Your appearance 👔
This is the version of you that shows up on social media, resumes, and in casual conversations.
🔍 What am I (Extrospective View)?
You are:
– A functional unit in society 🏛️
– A contributor to systems—economic, cultural, familial ⚙️
– A citizen, consumer, and performer of duties 🗳️
🪞 Extrospection reflects your outer shell—not your essence.
📱 Analogy:
You’re the smartphone’s case and screen—polished, visible, and interactive. But it doesn’t reveal what’s running inside.
🧠 Layer 2: Superficial Introspection – The Ego’s Voice
This is the app layer—your thoughts, emotions, and reactions. It’s internal, but often noisy and shallow.
🔍 Who am I (Superficial Introspection)?
You are:
– Your thoughts 💭
– Your emotions 😢😡😃
– Your desires and fears ❤️😨
– Your likes, dislikes, and opinions 👍👎
– Your self-image, shaped by past experiences 🧠
You might say:
> “I’m someone who struggles with confidence.”
> “I’m a person who wants to be loved.”
> “I’m not good at handling stress.”
But these are stories—not truths. They’re shaped by your environment, upbringing, and ego.
🔍 What am I (Superficial Introspection)?
You are:
– A bundle of habits and reactions 🔁
– A seeker of happiness, success, and validation 🎯
– A person trying to make sense of life while avoiding discomfort 🤷
🧃 Superficial introspection is like skimming the surface of a deep ocean.
📱 Analogy:
You’re the apps and notifications—constantly updating, reacting, and buzzing. Useful, but not the core of your being.
🧘♂️ Layer 3: Deep Introspection via Chetasyog – The Soul’s Inquiry
Now we reach the operating system—the invisible intelligence that powers everything. This is where Chetasyog comes in.
🌌 What Is Chetasyog?
Chetasyog (from Chetas, meaning consciousness, and Yog, meaning union) is a path of harmonious synergy between:
– Being-life: the cosmic consciousness that animates all existence 🌌
– Being-self: the individual existence experiencing life 🌱
It’s not just introspection—it’s integration. It teaches you to live as both a person and a presence.
🔍 Who am I (Chetasyog Deep Introspection)?
You are:
– Awareness itself 👁️
– The observer behind your thoughts and emotions 🧘
– Not your name, role, or story ❌🏷️
– A living expression of the universe experiencing itself 🌠
– A bridge between the finite and the infinite 🌉
You might realize:
> “I am not my anxiety—I am the one who notices it.”
> “I am not my past—I am the presence that remembers it.”
> “I am not separate—I am a ripple in the ocean of consciousness.”
🔍 What am I (Chetasyog Deep Introspection)?
You are:
– A manifestation of cosmic intelligence 🌱
– A temporary form housing eternal essence 🕊️
– A paradox—both individual and universal 🔄♾️
– A question unfolding, not a fixed answer ❓
– A story being written—and the author rewriting it ✍️📖
🧭 Chetasyog reveals that you are not just in the universe—you are the universe, in motion.
📱 Analogy:
You’re the operating system—quiet, powerful, and foundational. It doesn’t shout, but it runs everything. Without it, the apps and screen are meaningless.
🧩 Bridging the Three Layers
Here’s how to use all three lenses wisely:
| Lens | Who am I? | What am I? | Analogy |
|——|———–|————|———|
| 🧍♂️ Extrospection | A social identity | A societal role | Case & screen |
| 🧠 Superficial Introspection | A bundle of thoughts and emotions | A seeker of comfort and meaning | Apps & notifications |
| 🧘♂️ Chetasyog Deep Introspection | Awareness and cosmic expression | A harmonious union of Being-life and Being-self | Operating system |
You don’t have to choose one over the other. The goal is balance.
🧠💬 Questions to Ask Yourself
To move from extrospection to deep introspection, ask:
For External Issues:
– What situation triggered me today?
– What does my reaction say about me?
– What role do I play in this dynamic?
For Internal Issues:
– What emotion do I feel most often—and why?
– What belief might be limiting me?
– What am I avoiding emotionally?
To Bridge Both:
– What’s one external problem I’m facing—and what internal shift could change how I experience it?
– What’s the story I tell myself about my life—and who wrote it?
– If I were someone else observing me, what would I notice?
💡 TL;DR: The Core Insight
Most people live outwardly and reflect inwardly only when something goes wrong. But true self-understanding requires balancing all three lenses:
– Extrospection shows you how the world sees you.
– Superficial introspection shows you how your ego sees you.
– Deep introspection via Chetasyog shows you how your soul sees you.
The deeper you go, the more peaceful and purposeful your life becomes.
📝 Final Thought: You Are the Bridge
You are not just a body or a mind.
You are not just a soul or a spirit.
You are the bridge between the finite and the infinite.
Chetasyog invites you to walk that bridge—not as a destination, but as a way of being.