Know thyself!

 "Know thyself," is the Socratic injunction. Socrates believed that the best way to know either the reality or the world or the others is to know one's own self. In a way, it could be considered a distant echo of the ancient indian notions such as "ahm bramha asmi" and/or " tat twam asi." 

Why the need to know either the world or the self? In fact, it could be argued that there is an urgent need of this kind of self awareness because the twenty first century is marked by intensely stressful situations. Everything is at our throat, out to stifle our breath. Yes, there is the AI threat. Sure, there are the worries about getting/retaining a job, given the AI accession of every possible space. Relationships, unbelievably self-centered and superficial, are hardly human(e).

At times, it looks as if there is a vaccum inside and there is a constant, acute, and huge pressure outside, a classic case of near implosion. No wonder, negative thoughts invade, pervade and divide perception and cognition. Suicides, substance abuse, schizo feels are becoming more and more the norm. 

Hence the need to "know thyself" . On the occasion of the schizophrenia awareness day that was observed not so very long ago, that is, on May 24, I would like to assert that the moment one knows oneself, one can understand the trigger points. One can guard against them, one can avoid them, one can take help to prevent them. 

The best help can be being friendly with oneself, warts and all. Hence the self awareness which never allows any vicious comparison. Instead, there is a calm, wise, balanced acceptance of the desire to constantly better oneself.

The love of family, the equally selfless love of a pet, taking care of plants, helping the helpless, there are thousands of simple but sufficient ways of self support. In my opinion, music and reading help as much as developing newer hobbies. 

The most important aspect of "knowing thyself" is gratitude. There are people who stand behind you, with you, for you, rock solid, and without any expectations in return. Most often, it is your father, your mother, an elderly relative, your sibling, a good friend possibly. 

The moment you acknowledge their care and concern, you move out of your narrownesses, your self-obsessions and thus broaden your self-awareness. You realize that you owe at least a little something to their devoted selflessness, a feel which makes you empathetic. 

In brief, there is no end to growing better by the day. The sky is not the limit to such self-knowledge, neither is the horizon an apogee to such growth. In brief, atta boy, atta girl! 

Pratima@ As June 3 is also the cycle day, I suppose, physical activities such as some cycling, a little yoga n pranayam with chanting omkar, some jogging, a dash at gardening show us the breadth and the length of our physical awareness. Why, a simple swim shows us our true metier. Many are the ways of knowing one's own self. Let us follow them as the best baits against the big bad wor(l)ds out there. 

Quote of the day:                                                           "The essence of optimism is that it takes no account of the present, but it is a source of inspiration and vitality... It enables a man to hold his head high, to claim the future for himself, and not to abandon it to his enemies, (especially within)," says Dietrich Bonhoffer. 

Word of the day: positivity                                        Positivity is the practice or tendency to focus on what is good, hopeful, and constructive in any situation. Rather than forced, constant happiness, it is a resilient mindset centered on proactive coping, gratitude, and growth.