Knowing ourselves first and everything else second can only be to our advantage in life. And yet, so many of us avoid self-knowledge, dismissing it as unimportant, and pursue knowledge of the world instead.
If my parents repeatedly tell me that I am stupid and I believe them, this belief becomes part of who I think I am. This will affect my whole life. But suppose I become aware of this belief and realise that my parents and I were both mistaken. That I’m actually quite bright in many ways. Knowing this can change so many things, I’ll take challenges I never dared to take on before, feel more confident with others, and appreciate myself much more.
It is not hard to learn about something as close as ourselves. Still, the willingness to carry out rigorous self-reflection is rare. Lack of interest in ourselves, or fear of what we might uncover, can make us feel that we are living with a stranger.
If we want to know ourselves, ultimately, the only place to go to is within. When we know everything that happens in our minds, most unnecessary ‘noise’ dies away. Then we may find out that the only things that divide and estrange us from others and from the world, are our own thoughts and beliefs about separation. The universe is a highly coordinated affair. It has to be, or it would fall apart. So, to maintain the delicate life balance, everything, including us, is interconnected.
Devote some proper attention to yourself. Trust your inner worlds, believe in your own depths and your own resourcefulness. Then, when everything else fails you, that will be all you have and all that you need.