'self-exploration' originates from the combination of 'self,' meaning 'one's own person,' and 'exploration,' derived from Latin 'explorare,' meaning 'to investigate or search out.'

'explorare' transformed into the French word 'explorer,' and eventually became the modern English word 'explore,' which combined with 'self' to form 'self-exploration.'

Initially, 'exploration' meant 'to search or investigate,' and this meaning has been extended to include the introspective aspect of 'self-exploration.'