Self-Knowledge: Does Society Stop People From Developing Self-Knowledge?

During someone’s early years, there is a strong chance that they spent a lot of time being told what to do and what to think. There would then have been the conditioning that they received while they were in the education system.

A Few More Years

After this, one may have got a job, meaning that they would have continued to be told what do by different authority figures. Then again, they might have decided to go to university or college.

This could then have been a stage in their life when they knew very little about themselves; what they knew would have been the result of what they had been told by others. The years would then have passed and one might not be any different at this point in their life.

One Step Backwards

At the same time, one could still be right at the beginning of their life, meaning they can be the result of what their parents and teachers have told them. It is then only going to be a matter of time before they will come into contact with other authority figures that will shape their personality.

Now, clearly a human being will need guidance; it is not as though they will be able to handle life by themselves as soon as they are born. Unlike a rabbit or a mouse, for instance, they will need a lot of love and guidance in order to develop into an adult.

One Step Too Far

But while this is important, it could be said that today’s society goes too far when it comes to this part of the equation; for one thing, human beings are often seen as having a blank slate. Taking this into account, there is going to be no reason to try to bring anything out of a child, for instance, as they won’t have anything within them.

In reality, there will be a lot going on for a child and, when a child loses touch with what is going on within them, it is going to set them up to suffer. On the other hand, when a child is allowed to develop this connection and this connection grows stronger as the years go by, they will be aware of their needs, feelings, and motives, among other things.

An Aware Human Being

As an adult, they will be aware of what they need to do in life or, to be more precise, what   will be deeply fulfilling. They will also feel comfortable with their emotions, so there will be no need for them to hide them from themselves or others.

Therefore, if one is in pain, they can embrace how they feel and work through what is going on for them, or they can reach out for the right support if they can’t deal with how they feel. There can then be less chance of them becoming addicted to things or ending up ill.

Straight In

So, if they feel down or have been behaving in ways that are not helpful, they can look into what is taking place within them. Along with this, if they attract someone who undermines them, they can also look into what is going on for them.

Through being able to take this approach, they will be able to change their life. There will be no reason for them to feel like a victim and as though they have no control.

Another Experience

This could be seen as the ideal and it can be hard to imagine what the world would be like if everyone this connection with themselves. What can be said is that it is likely that the world would be relatively peaceful.

But with that aside, someone’s experience on this earth is going to be radically different when they haven’t been brought up in this way. Someone like this can live on the surface of themselves.

A Poor Substitute

And due to being out of touch with what is taking place within them, they are unlikely to have a very fulfilling life. Yet, if they are ‘happy’ it could be because they are living a life that revolves around pleasing others.

What this comes down to is that when one’s attention is in their mind, they are going to be focused on what is taking place externally; whereas, if they felt comfortable in their body, they wouldn’t need to do this, and this would stop them from needing approval. There is going to be no reason for them to face their pain directly, though.

A Number of Solutions

If they were to come into contact with how they feel, the society they live in will be on hand to take their pain away. There will be plenty of things that one can buy that will allow them to temporarily lose touch with how they feel.

The downside to this is that while they will feel better, what this won’t do is allow them to find out why they feel the way that they do. For example, if one felt down and they were to end up taking some kind of drug or to drink, they won’t be able to grow.

Outer Directed

And all the time that these short-term solutions are being offered, it makes it harder for someone to believe that the answers they need are not outside of themselves. As Carl Jung once said, “Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes.”

It would be easy to believe that this is just how the world is and that it is not this way on purpose. Another way of looking at it would be to say that it is this way partly due to how unaware so many people are and partly due to the people at the top, who are doing everything they can to keep it this way.

Awareness

If someone finds it hard to connect to what is taking place within them, and they want to change this, it might be a good idea for them to reach out for external support. This can be provided by a therapist or a healer.
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Naturally, this is going to take time and effort, but it will be worth it in the long run. Additionally, one can practice some kind of mediation, as this can be another way for them to develop a strong connection with their inner world.  

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Oliver JR Cooper
http://www.oliverjrcooper.co.uk