Knowledge of Self

One of the maxims of life is that “If a man has not discovered something that he will die for, he isn’t fit to live”. ―Martin Luther King Jr. Humanity lacks awareness of natural signals and messages, environmental events, and our inherent nature.

Self-awareness facilitates comprehension of life events. It gives us a perspective and anticipation of possible experiences throughout our lifespan.

Aldous Huxley posits, “If most of us remain ignorant of ourselves”, “it is because self-knowledge is painful, and we prefer the pleasures of illusion”. This knowledge fosters an awareness of the natural evolution of certain phenomena unless serendipity is the sole concern.

Undoubtedly, most of the time, it’s not that we actually enslave ourselves; instead, individuals who are less intelligent than us are responsible for our enslavement. However, one must possess a significant amount of knowledge to comprehend the full scope of their lack of knowledge.

Self-awareness enables individuals to appropriately adjust their behaviour or reactions to a particular circumstance. Self-knowledge necessitates introspection and discourse with others to scrutinise oneself.

 “If knowledge is power, then self-knowledge is empowerment.” ―Pedro Gaspar Fernandes. In view of this, we tend to understand ourselves more, avoiding the unreflective code of conduct. Most importantly, observing the difficulties faced by others can provide valuable insights for revising our perspectives at the ‘school of hard knocks’.

In other words, “Until we are able to understand that our minds are enslaved, we cannot simply influence and deconstruct that belief system embedded in our lives as well as the rules we’ve been living with”. Therefore, the existence of rules does not necessarily imply their ethical validity. Self-knowledge enables self-examination.

It is beneficial for individuals to allocate time for solitude. It allows individuals to explore their identity and understand the reasons behind their solitude. Obsolete principles, rules, or doctrines are persistently observed. Still, with self-awareness, it is possible to reassess those established rules or principles and determine whether they require refinement or complete rejection.

Lack of self-awareness and comprehension of one’s own mechanisms impedes freedom and self-governance and perpetuates enslavement.

Many avoid learning or exploring new things by staying within their comfort zone. These ‘creatures of habit’ are hesitant to venture beyond their familiar surroundings to discover their authentic identity due to the possibility of encountering surprising, disturbing, or, at worst disappointing, a ‘wet behind the ears’ issue.

Failure to attain self-knowledge often leads to an identity crisis. Ironically, “people who fail to understand want to know, but those who know refuse to understand”.

It is common to believe that adverse circumstances will spontaneously improve or are predetermined by fate. Does this not constitute a form of psychological enslavement? Upon reflection, it becomes apparent that mental processes, directions, and redirections do not occur spontaneously. They require deliberate activation. The statement suggests that one’s life is influenced by the unconscious mind until it is brought to consciousness, which is often perceived as fate.

 Regrettably, we often depend on assumptions that can lead to a distorted perception of reality, resulting in a delusional state.

Self-awareness facilitates the realisation that one possesses the necessary resources to fulfil their needs; otherwise, that dormant and unexplored potential will be perceived as lacking.

Proverbially, “What propels the frog to croak lies in his stomach”.

Individuals often rely on external factors to demonstrate their abilities and worth, which can ultimately lead to detrimental consequences for their future and well-being. In such instances, indecisiveness, limited exploration of alternatives, and a fixed mindset can lead individuals to attribute human errors to fate, disregarding the adage that “fortune favours the brave.” Fatalism should only be considered a last resort to maintain peace of mind.

In fact, there are times when persistence becomes part of the problem. Stay tuned for discussion.

March 31, 2023 March 31, 2023Categories

Blind By Choice

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