Imagine this. It's a typical college day - you're running from class to class. Maybe you have a few meetings thrown in here and there. Perhaps you're in a sport or a Greek organization, in which you have another event that fills your schedule. You're fully booked with a job and school work as well. On top of that, you remembered it's a special date for you and your significant other, and you have dinner plans right at 6 P.M. Even if you're not in college, I'm sure you've experienced a hectic schedule like this one.
If you're anything like me, you rarely have the time to sit and figure out what's really going on in your life. I'm not talking about the small things. I mean really knowing yourself inside and out. Have you ever been listening to a discussion or sitting in a class and find yourself thinking, "Hmm..I haven't really thought about that. I wonder where I stand 100% if someone were to ask"? We get so caught up in our daily lives, we rarely discuss or think about the ideas that are crucial to our self-development.
Here's a personal example; maybe you can relate. Last year, I switched my field of study to Social Work (with a potential minor in Political Science). Sitting in these classes was eye-opening, and they often challenged me to change my mindset and stretch myself to thinking differently than I ever have.
You see, I grew up in a Christian household, and to this day, I remain a Christian and a believer in Christ. However, my education in the Social Work field has broadened my horizons tremendously. At times, I feel like I'm trying to bring two very separate worlds together and ending up right in the middle. To my family, I'm sure I'm seen as being more liberal or open-minded. However, when I sit in class, I often feel so conservative that I sit silently, afraid that I may potentially hurt another's feelings. Though my beliefs would be said with good intentions, it's hard for anybody not to feel personally attacked when someone does not necessarily agree with his/her stance. Have you ever thought, "Why can't they just see what I see"? It's not something you fully understand until you feel like the outsider. Do you ever feel like sometimes you're living in two worlds and don't have the time to figure out how they connect?
A few days ago, I had what was supposed to be a writing conference with a professor. Instead, we talked about this dichotomy I feel between being conservative but being open-minded enough to make a change with all the world issues going on around us. As I sat and took the time to discuss with her the direction in which my life was going, I began to find more of myself.
I wonder though how many of us take the time to have these important conversations. Do you find yourself simply going through the motions of the day? How much time do you spend figuring out who you are and where you stand compared to the time you dedicate to work, school, television, social media, or friends in general? Who are you really? Where are you going? What do you want to accomplish? How does who you are affect where you want to go? Find time to find yourself.
"Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom." -Aristotle
