The world is full of noise. People force their opinions on you, project their own perceptions onto your life, give you advice that you never asked for, or simply judge you for things you do that don’t fit their worldview. Sounds familiar?
It doesn’t sound as bad when you read it on paper. But it is actually the reason why so many people live lives they don’t like. People stay in dead relationships, work in jobs that make them miserable, and copy others in their daily activities. Sometimes, seeing a reflection in someone else is easier than seeing your own reflection when it hasn't been approved by others. In a world of social media and chaos, it is easy to lose yourself and become a copy of another person, or a mix of different people you think are ideal. With AI, things will likely only get worse. We need to learn how to block out the noise and keep our beliefs, ideas, opinions, and dreams clear. We need to know how to move through life at our own pace.
1. Spend Time Alone
Learning to spend time alone is important because only when we are alone can we have an internal dialogue. Being alone is completely normal. If you are afraid to be alone, you are actually afraid of your own thoughts, because we are not always ready for the truth.
Try to spend an hour a day alone. You can start by meditating 10 to 15 minutes a day, but for some people, that is very difficult. Just being alone with your phone turned off is already a great start to reconnecting with yourself. You can take a walk while listening to your favorite music. You will be surprised by how many thoughts will pass you by. You can also read a book. When we read, we do not only have a dialogue with the author; we also project our own reactions, which show us a lot about how we feel. Finding a hobby that allows you to dive into your own work for an hour a day is a great way to learn about yourself: how you feel, what you want, what you need, and what to do next.
2. Filter Information
Learning to filter information is important so you know what is valuable to you and what you need to let go. Think of your brain as a storage unit with limited capacity. If you absorb information like a sponge, you will soon run out of space. It can make you feel confused, overwhelmed, and burnt out.
Turn on your critical thinking every time you watch the news, scroll through social media, or read anything meant to persuade you. Even when the news simply wants to inform us, it still forces us to feel specific emotions selected as the goal. For example, when I was taking yoga classes, I intentionally attended classes with different instructors. This way, I could learn techniques that fit my own preferences. I created my own yoga routine that I enjoyed because I listened to my body. The same goes for my diet. I listen to my own body first, and then I apply what I learn from the outside world only if it fits my needs and serves me best.
Do the same with information. Develop your critical thinking, which is the ability to look at each piece of information from different perspectives and question what comes to you. If you notice that watching a certain news channel makes you see red, perhaps it is a sign to switch your attention to something less intense. The energy you spend on negative emotions reduces your mental storage capacity. Sometimes, keeping your opinions to yourself is the best way to save a peaceful atmosphere, maintain good relationships, and protect that energy. Your inner compass will tell you when it is the time and place to be a tiger, and when it is best to stay quiet.
3. Choose Inspiration Over Copying
Understanding the difference between copying and taking ideas for inspiration is important. We are surrounded by the creativity, talent, skills, and ideas of other people. It can be challenging to come up with your own thoughts when you can simply copy something. But by copying, you move a little bit further away from yourself. You will never be proud if you present someone else’s work as your own. We exchange ideas with each other to inspire, motivate, and share our work with the world. It is a part of being human, and we all have something to offer.
Your One-of-a-Kind Self
Being connected to yourself is a true test today. But as you learn how unique, beautiful, and special you are, you won’t need to copy anyone else. You have a one-of-a-kind self. You will never want to look like someone else, or have someone else's partner, job, or house, because you make your own decisions in life. Your mistakes become your experience, teaching you to be a better person. You are the maker of your own movie.