The Fine Line Between Growth and Obsession
Photo from the Momentum Consulting 2020 Summit
At what point does self-reflection become self-centeredness?
Turns out, sooner than you might think. This is something I have been examining lately, and upon closer inspection, it was revealed to me all of the ways in which I’ve been making everything about myself while calling it self-reflection. A highly embarrassing yet enlightening realization.
It is a slippery slope, especially in today’s society where boundaries, mindfulness, and obsessively working on yourself is the new biggest flex. Once we find ourselves spending a majority of our time fine-tuning how we are perceived, I’m afraid we’ve lost the plot.
The purpose of working on yourself is to expand your experience of life, not reduce it. We are all just mirrors of each other, and if we want to get the best data for how we are impacting the world around us, we have to interact with it.
When your sole focus is self-reflection, you have nothing to reflect off of.
It is unnatural and overstimulating to be surrounded by cameras and mirrors 24/7—but in today's world, it can feel impossible to escape. It’s important to remember that we were never meant to see our reflection in anything other than the people around us. We saw how beautiful we were by looking into the eyes of another, not our selfie camera or ring light.
Relying solely on yourself or technology to reflect back to you your essence is not only sad—it’s ineffective. And as it turns out, our minds are incredibly unreliable narrators, especially when it comes to ourselves.
So, what’s the solution? Put down the journal and self-help podcast (even if only for a moment) and go have a conversation. Even better if it’s with a stranger. Focus on being more interested than interesting. Go to the birthday party, even if it means sacrificing your sleep score for a night. There is a whole world out there ready to teach you more about yourself than you could ever imagine—if you are willing to truly listen.
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Fundamental of the Week #26: CONTINUOUSLY SEEK TO IMPROVE THE IMPACT WE MAKE
Always seek a breakthrough approach. Our job is to improve the lives and work of the people around us. This path takes planning, diligence, and thoughtfulness.
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