Socializing to Explore Oneself!

Akka, does that mean socializing is very important to explore ourselves?

(*Akka means elder sister in Kannada)

This was the question my sister's friend asked me when she read one of my blog ('Re-discovering Myself - Har ki Dun'; it was about how I found more about myself during the trek with strangers). She is one of my regular reader; and always provides some feedback or follow up on my blog posts.

I had to think about it a bit. Analyze my perception.

I say YES.

We won't know a lot about ourself until we don't let elements of nature play with our soul.

What irritates us, what pleases us, what angers us, what disheartens us - in simple terms what effects us and how we react to that; defines our personality. It not only shapes our personality but it also helps in introducing us to our true self; like holding a mirror at our face so we can see who we truly are.

For instance, I have been staying alone without roommates for few years now. So staying alone in the house; watching or listening to what I feel like or speaking only when I feel like; I do stay calm mostly. However, my natural instinct is very raw. I am very short tempered, cannot fake feelings, cannot ignore anything that impacts me or people I love. But in last few years, staying alone I have trained myself to stay calm, to say - it's okay and move on. I don't get worked up so easily.

But when am all by myself, who is there to instigate me, right? So, the true test is when I am with real people. People that I like and people that I don't like. Can I tolerate them or do I lose my mind?

Real world and real people, brings out the real you. And it's important we know who we really are; not for anyone else but for ourselves. It's important that I know who I am, when I am by myself v/s when I am with rest of the world. Do I fake myself? Am I an asshole unnecessarily or am just a bull dog to people who deserve it? I might think I am an absolute peace lover; until someone starts a debate on a topic that is close to my heart and all of a sudden I am standing with a sword in my hand.

Not only to discover who we are; meeting new people and socializing also reasserts our core emotional system. Meeting strangers, sharing stories, helps us in ways we don't foresee. It opens our heart to love again, to laugh more harder, to cry like there's no tomorrow, to trust another soul. In a more so mechanical world today, it has become vital to educate our soul on these emotions other than the routine ones like frustration, anger, sadness, stress, emptiness or depression. It's amazing how many options in life open up when you just end up talking to right people.

On another note, there are things that you enjoy when you are alone and then there are things that you enjoy when you are with people - humans - homo sapiens.

So yeah, they are intimidating but remember they are like you - they eat, breathe and sing. They are just like you, so open up to the world. You don't have to like them all. You don't have to hate them all. You also don't have to be stuck with them all forever. But the one or two real homo sapiens you will find during the process; they will make your life more beautiful. And if we are going to live once then why not live a more beautiful and colourful life.

Start adding all those different flavours of mankind to your life. And see how you enjoy it. Well, if the process gets too boring or stressful, then you can always take a break and stay to yourself. You don't have to be stuck with anyone that you don't enjoy even for a second. Remember life is too precious to be wasted on people that don't matter. Socialize randomly to find out what best suits you, and eventually socialize with right people.

Well, my verdict is socializing is as important to explore ourselves as solitude is. What are your thoughts?

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