It has occured to me that at a time of social distancing, it might be enlightening to find out more about ourselves. Maybe, by taking the time to look inward, we each could discover interesting things we might have never considered before. Even if one prays and/or meditates daily, there is so much to be learned about oneself. And the more we collectively seek to take the time we have and use it to understand ourselves, it becomes easier to talk with one another about the things that matter the most to each of us.
How do we see ourselves in the world we inhabit? Do we think that others understand us? Do we assume that others can see our intentions? Do we want to invest our time in getting to know people that may appear to be very different from ourselves? It seems to me that if we want to know and understand each other, we need to know ourselves more intimately.
It can be scary to discover one’s feelings and prejudices about the people we encounter. We often want to see ourselves in a good light. Finding out that we have faults that we may have hidden from ourselves, is enlightening, but unpleasant. It’s hard to look at our failings. But, if one strives to be more fully human and caring, looking inside could be the path we need to follow.
We live in a time of finger-pointing and blame-shifting. Taking responsibility for one’s actions is not the go-to for many of us. Instead, we must do some soul searching to be honest with ourselves. Only then, can we begin to live more honestly and openly.
Relationships in the lives of everyone of us, can be made more meaningful. We can discover so much about our world and the people in it, by first looking inward. Then, if we do this, we may find a way to be more honest and understanding when we are able to leave our isolation. Perhaps, we may be able to reconnect more lovingly because of the time we spent in introspection. Let’s strive to be better people by using our time wisely. There is nothing to lose by doing this. We have only to gain by looking inward and finding out who we really are.