SELF-EXAMINATION V. SELF-ANALYSIS

I wonder if self-forgetfulness isn't the greatest freedom? And isn't the way to real self-forgetfulness through self-examination? Some great old Greek guy once wrote or said (something like), "An unexamined life is a life not worth living." 

Our lesson learned comes in learning the difference between self-examination and "figuring it out," or self-analysis unto paralysis. 

I don't believe we can have a truly self-examined life without someone else's ears hearing us, hearing what we're turning up in our self-examination and, with God’s guidance, pointing us in the right direction...away from ego toward God. 

Self-analysis is usually done when we're all alone, contemplating either the wrongs that have been done to us or justifying that which wasn't really a wrong, as such, that we did. For maximum self-pity and/or self-hate, it is best done at 3:00 AM…at 3:00 AM, it is always all about self.

For maximum self-forgetfulness, there is nothing that tops listening to another with our spiritual growth in mind. Then we can't listen in order to advise. Nor can we listen in order to placate, control, manage, manipulate...in short, we can't listen for anything that has to do with us, personally. 

We listen in order to truly hear the other with God's guidance...which means that we listen in silence with our only thought being "thank you." That clears our channel for God to speak and also shows forth our gratitude to the speaker for trusting us to be available to hear him or her.

I'm of the belief that we cannot listen spiritually to another with self on our mind. That is self-forgetfulness.

Thank you.