Young people are quite familiar with the feeling of facing a series of several choices that will shape the rest of their lives. Having a good understanding of themselves, their strengths, their flaws and their desires is quite important during such a time. In order to acquire such knowledge, they may engage in the process of self-discovery, a term that is often used in conversations with young people to guide and direct them. It is a term that is used as a remedy for uncertainty or anxiety about the future. It is a promise that leads them to believe that a planned series of actions can provide them with a simple answer for a very complex question – who am I?
Someone who was to look for the key to self-discovery may seek answers from sources such as the internet or from various books. Sometimes, they may find the answers that they need. More often than not, however, they are led into activities that drain them of their time and energy, and lead them nowhere near the answers they seek. For instance, self-discovery is commonly said to be a result of journeying through new places by yourself. This may include backpacking in a foreign country or simply taking a road trip. Similarly, persons can also discover themselves by completely changing their lifestyle – starting from the food that they eat all the way to the products that they have been using all their lives.
While these methods may work for some people, and are beneficial in their own ways, they rarely provide any breakthroughs in the process of self-discovery.
Most of the activities described as catalysts for self-discovery, such as those mentioned above, revolve around the idea of providing individuals with new experiences. It modifies the way that they have lived all their lives and gives them a chance to gain a fresh perspective on their lives and the world. The issue is that the only people who are willing to put in effort into such changes are those who are facing problems or dissatisfaction in their regular lives. Thus, by removing themselves from the setting in which they are experiencing problems, they experience temporary relief and comfort. For example, by taking a small trip, you are postponing the anxiety-inducing decisions that you have to make. However, at the end of the trip, unless you have acquired a life-changing experience, you will have to return home to make the very decision that you were struggling to make earlier. Within a few days or weeks, you will be battling the same problems that you were before, and you will find that you have not really learned much about yourself that can be useful to you in your daily life.
Self-discovery is not a fabricated concept; it is quite real. However, self-discovery by force of will or just as a result of engaging in a few activities is quite unrealistic. You can only learn things about yourself that are valuable if you examine yourself as you go through your daily life. If you would like to find out what subject you are most passionate about, spend some time studying and exploring your options, rather than taking a road trip. If you feel suffocated or unsatisfied every day, think about how you spend all your time and see how you can be more productive or where you can take more breaks.
It is only natural to seek answers in the same place that you found the questions. It is always better to discover yourself in the life that you are currently facing than anywhere else.
