The side quest of self-Discovery.

self-Discovery is the quest as old as time itself, we come into this life naked and most often times without a predetermined purpose. Some have the fortune (or perhaps misfortune) of having parents with a clear will and vision for our future, they lay out a path for us to follow. But even having a "Destiny" doesn't save us from identity crisis. Sometimes it even makes it worse.

So if it is necessary to know who we are, and to find out callings. How exactly do we do that? Well I'm dreadfully sorry to inform you, but I have no idea! Something so complex as identity and the self don't beget manuals. If there was a sure way to know ones self however, I don't think it would be as diverse and fascinating a world as it is.

The fun part is always the not knowing. I know it doesn't seem that way at first, after all who enjoys stumbling around in the dark. But suspend your disbelief for just a moment and imagine with me for a second. You stand before a vast ocean, the beach is small enough for you to explore in just a few years, parked on the beach is a brightly colored submarine. You get comfortable on the beach and even build a little hut there, it take you a few years but eventually All the beach is mapped and explored. All the while looking out at the ocean and thinking "what's beyond this beach? I couldn't possibly go and explore it all on my own" Now the whole time you've been on this beach, the submarines been right there. The keys on the dash and the tank full of gas. How long do you think it would take you to leave the safety of the beach? How eager would you be to see what's beyond?

In this little analogy you are the beach. Your physical body, thoughts, likes and dislikes. They all live here; but your subconscious mind, desires, fears and hopes. They are all out in the ocean. Our submarine is full of tools we need to explore this ocean, Discernment, rational judgment, whimsy. The submarine in this case is your brain and it's ability to serve the function of exploring the rest of you.

Most times it's very easy to get caught up in the beach, it is the easiest to navigate and the most present in our lives. The surface level things that come up most often. Getting into the submarine requires you to really insulate, think about yourself and analyze Yourself in ways you didn't think you'd ever have to. It's a very naturally scary thing, not to mention once you have the submarines controls all mapped out . You have to go INTO the ocean. So it's like you've done all this work, just to begin the task .

I am intentional about my analogy though, because the ocean like our self is vast and unknown, but also like our self; it is rich in complex ecosystems and corners of exploration. There will be titans of terrifying size and shadows of the deep that invoke fear and Dread, but don't be fooled; their are just as many bioluminescent fish, colourful coral and playful sea creatures.

The keys are yours, all you really have to do is have the courage to explore yourself. Fear is normal, but never forget. It converts best when used as fuel.

-with love, Àse