Defin(d)ing Yourself

I really do wonder at the phrase, "Find yourself."

Where do you find yourself? In books you've read? In movies you've seen? In songs you've heard?

In other people?

We're constantly influenced by what's around us. A product of our environment - that's what we are, each and every one of us. So, we don't find ourselves. I mean, really. We can't just look at something and say, yup, that's me, and BAM! we've found ourselves. 

Far too many people do that already.

I think, self-discovery isn't a journey. 

It's analysis.

We cherry-pick the data we receive in our lives continuously, all of the time. What's on every screen, every conversation we have - we choose what we want to keep, remember, and learn from - and then we discard the rest. 

And still, so many people don't have a strong sense of self.

I get it, how almost everyone I meet seems lost. Regurgitating what's popular. They don't know what matters to them. Sheep. Replicating, placating, and moving on with the herd.

A world full of copies that pale in comparison to the few, rare originals.

Wherever people are "finding themselves," they're looking in the wrong place. Instead of being inspired by what they deem worthy of their attention, they accept, and move on.

How do we manage to go through life without knowing what we're all about?

We don't think about it. That's how.

It's all about realizing what's around us. Do we think? Do we analyze? Honestly, that's what makes the difference. What do we deem worthy of our attention? Are we only following? 

We need to stop, for just a second, and look at what we're doing. So, so many of us are only going through the motions, and I just don't get it.

I'll tell you something. If you're lost, if you're tired, if you're in a rut, here's what you do.

You challenge yourself. Surround yourself with people, topics, media, that interest you, but are different than what you're used to.

That clash, that shock, will help you draw the lines that make the distinction between a copy, and an original.

In the end, there is no finding yourself. 

There's only defining yourself.