Crafting Your Unique Happiness: Embracing Self-Discovery in a World of Influencers

Have you ever wondered how is your life being shaped? What are the factors that push you harsh and sometimes nudge you subtly into a direction? Upto just a couple of decades ago, we found directions in the words of wise people of our cultures or in texts of religion. They had been a guiding light for the societies. However, their reach wasn’t as ubiquitous as those of ‘influencers’ of today. So here is the question paraphrased - how is your life being shaped? What is influencing your choices - from breakfast cereals to setting up life goals? Adverts? Memes? Quotes? All of them being delivered to you through algorithms of social media and search engines. Now the AI?

Are we attuned enough to filter them out to best suit our life? The mass and social media are consistently delivering messages to consume one thing over the other. If you were to run a simple test of it’s power, just ask yourself - would you feed your kid a breakfast that comes out of a brand you never heard of? Advertisements are so pervasive that we don’t trust products unless they have been advertised. The product is not limited to breakfast of course, almost anything that humans consume - even if it is supposedly free, is product. My aim of bringing this to notice is how the social media shaping our way to lead a life. Our life values. The concept of happiness. In my opinion, shaping of our thinking processes deserves a lot more scrutiny than we choose to give it.

There's a secret lurking in the corners of our lives, a question that haunts us all: Who are we, really? We're voyeurs peering through the window of other people's lives, clutching at the curtains of social media, eager to imitate the lives we see. But do we know who we are, beyond the well-curated facades of Instagram and Facebook? Are we simply cogs in the great machine of "likes" and "shares," or are we something more?

The truth is that we live based on other people's lives – all of us. We look at others, and we try to live life like them. But as we mimic their routines or lifestyles, we miss the most crucial point: We don't know the behind-the-scenes, the daily struggles, the personal histories that shaped these people. We see only the final result, the outcomes, the projections – and we crave that. Yet, we forget that the journey is what shapes a person, not the destination.

Today's world of social media influencers and celebrities magnifies this desire. We think that if we follow their footsteps, we too can live a life of spiritual awakening, minimalism, or adventure. But we don't know their lives – we don't know their wiring, their essence. How can we become someone else when we haven't discovered ourselves?

Here is something to ponder: Do you observe that almost all religious texts from around the world are in form of verses? What could be the reason? I recommend you pause here for a minute or two. Think of the how does the messaging differ between prose and poetry?

I hope you did give it a little think, if not here is your chance again.

Here is (not completely) my take. Prose is direct. Doesn’t leave much room for interpretation. That is its power. Your legal and scientific texts rather be in prose. Let their be no ambiguity. Poetry, on the other hand has the power to convey what words cannot tell. If I were to bring before you an exotic fruit and just inform you it is sweet, what flavour do you conceive? Sweet as sugar, wine, lover’s lips, cake, grape juice? That is the limitation of the words and as each of us conceptualise them. Those who put together religious texts, were obviously, well aware of such shortcomings and thus used poetic forms. However, the poetry is meant to invigorate the mind and go beyond what is written in words. That requires effort. Unfortunately, most of us don’t want to do that. And so, a poem is converted into a story, further distilled down into ‘moral of the story’. The moral is what stays in our brains. It is completely detached from the context. If that was not appalling enough, we are now down to ‘quotes’ and memes - a further shortened version. WIth no context, you are most likely to mis-interpret the original meaning. For example: ‘Be Yourself’ What does that mean to you? Be your obnoxious self? Obese? Lazy? Hardworking?

Do you even know yourself? How?

Self-discovery requires courage, curiosity, and a willingness to dive into the unknown. It usually requires even more courage when you begin to uncover the initial filth. It's about shedding the expectations of others and taking the plunge into a world of exploration. You got to start somewhere, begin with whatever catches your fancy. I invite you to go with an open mind. Be ready to accept that you may not like the experience even if all other people around you are thoroughly enjoying themselves. I am a former military pilot, I have done some of the craziest manoeuvres. But for the life of me, I cannot trust my life to a roller coaster or giant wheel. It is perfectly alright. Try different activities and life experiences, including ones you may not like. You never know what might become a newfound passion.

Remember the wide-eyed curiosity of childhood? That's what we need to channel. If you couldn't explore or chose poorly back then, now is your time. You're older, you have life experience, so why not choose wisely? Discover what truly brings you joy, what kind of people you like, and what your preferred routine is.

Don't just jump into a new lifestyle thinking it will bring you happiness. Instead, approach it with a sense of exploration. Maintain a heightened self-awareness and take note of your feelings at every step of the way. Perhaps you'll love it; perhaps you won't. But either way, you'll learn something about yourself.

To find your own unique path to happiness, focus on introspection and mindfulness. Be honest about your likes, dislikes, and dreams. Trust your intuition, and let your inner voice guide you. Surround yourself with people who support your journey, who understand you're on a quest to uncover your true self, beyond labels and societal expectations.

So, let's break free from the chains of imitation and the desire to live like others. It's time to embark on a journey to uncover the life that suits you best, the one that resonates with your unique personality and desires. It may not be easy, but the reward of living a life that reflects who you truly are will be worth every step taken, every challenge faced, and every moment spent in introspection and self-discovery.

Join me on this adventure of a lifetime, where we cast aside the expectations and the projections, and dive deep into the uncharted waters of self-exploration. Together, let's find our own unique paths to happiness, not relying on imitating others, but creating lives that are entirely, beautifully, and authentically ours.

PS - I understand that it might be difficult or damn near impossible to find your true self all by yourself. If you do feel stuck, do not hesitate to contact me. I’d love to help you out.