What does it mean to observe oneself? To truly look inward is to confront the observer and the observed paradox. Self-observation reveals something both unsettling and liberating: the absence of a concrete “self” to observe. Yet, this absence is not a void; it is a vast, dynamic awareness that holds all experience without judgment or attachment.
When the mind turns its gaze inward, it seeks to grasp the essence of identity. Who is the one observing? Is it the body, the thoughts, or the emotions? As the layers of identity dissolve under scrutiny, the “face” of the observing self becomes clear: it has no features, no boundaries, no name. It is an awareness that exists beyond the stories we tell ourselves, beyond the constructs of past and future.
This realization often stirs resistance. The mind, conditioned to identify with roles and narratives, may fight to hold onto the illusion of a solid self. But the observing self invites surrender—not as a defeat but as a return to authenticity. To analyze its face is not to define it but to recognize that it is the source of all definitions, all perceptions, and all experiences.
In this space of pure observation, there is no judgment. Thoughts arise and fall away like waves; emotions flow without resistance. The observer does not interfere, label, or categorize. It is simply present, awake, and unattached. This is where true freedom lies—not in controlling the waves of experience but in abiding by the unmoving awareness beneath them.
The practice of observing oneself is not an escape from life but a profound engagement with it. It is the realization that the one who suffers, the one who desires, and the one who fears is not the ultimate truth of who we are. Beyond these transient identities lies the still, eternal witness, untouched by the flux of existence.
To analyze the face of the observing self is to encounter the formless essence of being. It is a mirror reflecting the infinite, a gateway to profound peace. This realization transforms how we engage with the world, fostering a deep compassion for ourselves and others. For when the illusion of separation falls away, what remains is love—the recognition that the observer and the observed are one.
Morgan O. Smith
Yinnergy Meditation, Spiritual Life Coaching & My Book, Bodhi in the Brain…Available Now!
Morgan O. Smith 