We look out at the world and are sure of what we see.
Opinions formed, judgments cast in an instant.
Our minds run paths of incessant discernment
Taking in all these minute observations and sifting through them to form coherent analyses.
It is easy to analyze the world.

What is nearly impossible is to see ourselves - all our thoughts and resulting actions - with such lucidity.
To do so would entail being in a constant state of sentient askance as to
Why we thought the things we thought
Why we felt the things we felt
Why we did the things we did
And to be amenable to the realization that not all those reasons might be honorable.

Aside from the human affliction of a wandering mind
- An infernal burden at times but also the key to creativity -
This would be an implausible task because of the fact that sometimes
Even we do not understand ourselves
Even after self-inspection.
Callous thoughts, sullen emotions, and random compulsions leading to erratic behavior
Are not always elicited by tangible reason.
One of the great delusions of humanity is that we are abidingly rational creatures.

Yet despite our natural limitations, the conundrum of ourselves in one we must attempt to puzzle over.
No matter how incongruously cryptic or simple the results of one’s analysis turn out
A single piece of knowledge gleaned from honest self-inspection is more empowering
Than a thousand judgments of the rest of the world.