Integration 4 | Clearness Committee

For this activity, we want you to spend some time exploring more of your “true self,” especially as it is experienced in relationship to others. Part of this process will involve distinguishing between who you think you “should” be, how others experience you, and how you understand yourself. The exercise, sometimes known as a Clearness Committee, involves honest consultation with a trusted group of advisors, friends, and family members who can help you think through important issues in your life. More specifically, we will use these discussions to go beyond basic, self-reported introspection to gain a deeper understanding of ourselves.

The process of consulting a trustworthy group of advisors for guidance is a powerful undertaking that has been used by people from various religious traditions as well as the social sciences. We have only a partial understanding of our own story because we see our lives through one lens that is limited by our personal perceptions. Other people can help us see things that we cannot see ourselves. Very often, we can be harder on ourselves than others, and a Clearness Committee can help us see not just weaknesses but also strengths that we cannot see from our limited vantage point. This is why third-party or external observers, such as Clearness Committee members, can be so beneficial for self-awareness. By seeking the advice of people that know us well and care enough about us to be honest, we can gain refreshing and powerful perspectives on our lives. Ultimately, this exercise can help us discover how to live more freely and fruitfully as our most authentic selves.

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