Mirror Mirror

As many of you know, I have spent 45 minutes, once a week, over the last year and a half, on a therapist’s couch. Those collective hours have been tremendously helpful in leading me towards a full and complete understanding of myself. I will forever shout at the top of any mountain that everyone on the planet deserves that same experience. I have resolved so many points of contention within my own head and pounds of guilt and anger have evaporated into thin air. I truly believe mental well-being is at the very foundation of any happy and healthy person and that none of us can do it alone.

As I think back on the last year, the truth of the matter is that it has taken far more than the 45 minutes per week on that couch. My transformation has occurred because of all the additional time I have spent contemplating a lifetime of behavior and all the possible motivations behind it. I have thought about my influences and my idols. I have deconstructed all of my traumatic events and the lasting impacts they still have on my reactions today. I have discussed possible behavioral theories with those closest to me and listened to their perspective on formative events throughout my lifetime.

Much of my contemplation is done in the car, as I drive many miles per week for my job.  One of my thoughts today specifically was about how self-indulgent I have been throughout this process. I couldn’t believe how much time I was spending thinking about why I had done certain things and from where those impulses were coming. I judged myself for spending so much time thinking about me, me and more me. How could I be so conceited as to be constantly analyzing my own life history and the subsequent consequences. I was supposed to be writing about how we have become too self indulgent and how we need to turn our eyes outward to solve more collective issues that face humankind.

But I have come to the empowering realization that self-indulgence for the right reasons can be the greatest catalyst in existence for helping others. I liken it to the airplane safety manuals telling you that you have to put on your own oxygen mask first before assisting others. Removing the blocks inside of your own head opens you up to being less angry and more cooperative.  Once you understand the reasons why you feel depression or anxiety and come up with a plan to deal with them, you can be the best version of a helpful human being and come very close to being your true and ideal self. The journey of finding oneself could be the best formula we could ask for in bringing true hope to humanity as a whole.