I have a secret. Confronted with the canopy of distant stars, silent landscapes, or the rush of the ocean I find myself lost. It’s an intentional act, of course. I have always found solace and intrigue in my most inner thoughts.
Contemplating long held beliefs, religion, science, or unconventional art may be easily categorized as day dreaming. My father was fond of telling me that I was a “dreamer,” and he was right. I easily find myself lost in my creations, dreams, and thoughts.
“The more powerful and original a mind, the more it will incline towards the religion of solitude.”
Aldous Huxley
Being a day dreamer has taught me the art of self reflection and introspection. We live in a world that demands action. That action may be waking up at 4AM every day to start our day. Finding ways to work through lunch or squeeze in a workout routine. Or maybe it’s the ongoing documentation of our lives on social media.
Slow Down to Speed Up
We need to slow down to retreat from a world full of distractions or expectations. By creating a safe space for self reflection and introspection we can better understand ourselves. By knowing yourself better you will come to find the actions, behaviors, and values most important to you.
“Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength; mastering yourself is true power. If you realize that you have enough, you are truly rich.”
Lao Tzu
You may feel selfish, introverted, or even uncomfortable. Your partner, family, or friends may not understand your need for personal time and reflection.
I’ve found that better understanding myself and asking open ended questions about the universe have made me more creative, more thoughtful, and has created clarity around what I value most.
Januwordy
I encourage you to write more and join Januwordy, a daily writing challenge that kicks-off in January 2019. Today’s writing prompt is/was secret.
secret / se·cret/ sēkrit / adjective
not known or seen or not meant to be known or seen by others