Rediscovering Ourselves: The Lost Art of Thinking in a Fast-Paced World
In our rush to conform to societal norms and relationship expectations, we often find ourselves shedding little pieces of our identity along the way. It’s a gradual process, barely noticeable at first, until one day we wake up and realize that whole parts of ourselves are missing. This realization can be jarring, leading us to question our choices and the path we’ve taken.
The Erosion of Self
As a young adult, I possessed a vibrant energy for life, an enthusiasm that seems to have slowly faded over time. I wasn’t afraid to question things or make my voice heard. But somewhere along the way, I started saying yes when I wanted to say no, staying silent when I had so much to say, and eventually stopped making my voice heard because it felt like no one was listening anyway.
One of the most painful losses has been the ability to delve deeper into everything. I used to love analyzing and looking closely at things, but now I feel I’ve lost that.
We’re caught in the rut of daily life – jobs, money, kids, problems – and it’s slowly suffocating us, robbing us of our healthy zest for life. Robbing us of our deeper thinking and in return of our deeper feelling.
The Role of Our Environment
Our environment and the people around us play a significant role in shaping who we are. Sometimes, the people we love most can unknowingly contribute to us losing pieces of ourselves. It’s a delicate balance, maintaining these relationships while reclaiming our identity. Some might not even survive because of what we’ll discover when we actually start seeing within ourselves.
Some questions I have no answers to are just pushing me to dig deeper.
What do we do when we’re at this point in life, ready to (re)discover who we should be, but those closest to us aren’t? When they’re content with discarding their old selves and replacing them with glittery new versions of themselves, while we’re struggling to hold onto our essence?
Moving Forward: Embracing Change and Growth
Perhaps losing parts of ourselves is inevitable, but what truly matters is how we respond when we realize what’s happened.
Do we try to gather those pieces back, or do we accept that we’ve changed and focus on building something new?
The answer likely lies somewhere in between. It’s not about finding the lost pieces exactly as they were, but about creating new ones that reflect who we are now – a mishmash of our old and new selves. This journey of self-discovery and growth can lead to positive changes in our lives if only we are willing to listen… to feel… and to think.
The Lost Art of Thinking
In reading about the brilliant minds of the past, one thing struck me: how much time they spent thinking. Just ruminating about everything and nothing when there were no fixed rules of how thinking should be done.
Thinking is messy. You can’t shove thoughts into neat little boxes and once you’ve let one go, a lot more will follow sometimes overwhelming in their multitude of directions. It’s no wonder some of us choose to shut that door and throw the key.
This sort of reflecting within ourselves without limitation is something we’ve lost in droves, not just individually, but as a society. We’ve misplaced true feeling and lost the art of thinking. We’re so busy, so shallow, so fast that we never stop anymore! We’ve become numb.
We consume shallowness the same way we consume fast food. We prefer not thinking and not feeling because we’re scared to face them, choosing the easier alternative instead.
I’ve been craving to do something that I’m almost too ashamed to admit because it’s so simple it should become automatic but it’s not. I’ve been contemplating going somewhere inspiring away from all the buzz and just staring at the clouds or the leaves of a tree, listening to my thoughts and my feelings and acknowledging them all as they come. Undiluted, raw, shameful, beautiful, uplifting or depressing.
What would I discover if I could quiet the constant chatter of my to-do list and grasp that silver thread of deeper thought and feeling that’s always muted in the background? Would this self-reflection lead me anywhere?
Emotional Intelligence and Self-Reflection
Developing our emotional intelligence is one of the keys to navigating our journey of self-discovery. It’s a unique tool that allows us to recognize and understand our feelings, helping us make correct decisions in complex situations.
Self-reflection is the center of developing this intelligence. It requires us to pause, step back from the stress of daily life, and examine our thoughts and behaviors in their purest form. This practice could also lead to better productivity and high levels of motivation as we align our actions with our true selves.
A Call to Go back
In a world that often prioritizes quick reactions and surface-level interactions, taking the time to engage in deep thought feels like more of a radical act.
By reclaiming the lost art of thinking, we can develop a higher ability to understand ourselves and the world around us. This self-awareness can guide us towards a truly happy way of life, one that aligns with our true self with no societal restrictions interfering.
Let’s challenge ourselves to think more deeply, to question our assumptions, and to engage with life in a more meaningful way.
We should all remember that it’s okay to take time for ourselves, to do nothing but think.
In fact, it might sometimes be one of the most productive things we can do.
So go ahead, stare at those clouds, listen to the rustling leaves, and see what your soul has to say. You might be surprised by what you discover.
Laria.
