Self-Discovery

By Lana

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Do you ever imagine that you are on an adventure, exploring life as if it was a single-player game? Oftentimes, the opportunity to have quality time with yourself to explore is refreshing. Self-exploration allows the chance for you to see how you fit yourself in your surroundings and grow from it. While it is a source of independence, we all are preoccupied with duties and responsibilities in our everyday lives making it easy to not prioritize any time for ourselves. Yet, being able to set time aside for your enjoyment can be incredibly fulfilling, especially during times of stress.

I’ve had my fair share of times where I was too focused on school that it felt like a torturous cycle, and I did not know how to escape it. Whenever I looked at my workload and was only focusing on it, doing my tasks felt like a chore. It prolonged to a point where I did not recognize myself - I did not look forward to anything exciting, nor did I feel as if I was mentally and emotionally growing as an individual. It seems difficult to realize this especially when you naturally begin to compare yourself to others, where their goals seem drastically difficult from yours. 

However, there is no such thing as it being too late to discover yourself. The idea of reflecting on who you are can be done by prioritizing quality time with yourself, particularly by doing what you enjoy. Here are some starters and ideas on what you can do:

Block out your days
Make some space within your days to have time to rest! These “time slots” should go beyond the bare necessities of taking care of yourself (such as eating or showering). Even if you have a busy schedule, it is good to make boundaries on when you should start doing what brings you enjoyment! For instance, maybe you can say that the time between supper and bedtime will be when you can destress and enjoy a show or do your hobby. This helps you rest your mind while enjoying time by yourself.

Interact with the environment
Whenever I feel stressed or gloomy, I like to take spontaneous walks to calm myself down. Being outside feels liberating, where it makes me feel like I am not trapped in a box. Having this opportunity allows you to ease up your mind, and also sort your thoughts and priorities when you have to go back to the “real world.” You can also find enjoyment out of it! I like to ride my bike, but you can also observe plants or take long walks. You can also track your movement, so you feel as if you did something on that particular day.

Try out some hobbies that encourage imagination
There are numerous hobbies that allow you to be imaginative. Whether it is doing an arts and crafts project, taking pictures, or reading, having a hobby allows you to find the things that you enjoy. I would personally consider cooking as a good hobby because it allows you to be resourceful yet imaginative through the ingredients you are able to gather to make a meal. It is also beneficial, as it helps you develop good lifeskills as well.
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Take personalized quizzes
I like to take certain quizzes or personality tests to help me understand who I am at the bare minimum. Particular tests, especially the Myers-Briggs test, allow me to reflect on questions that are based on my experiences, morals, and beliefs in order to gather information on what personality type I am best suited for. It brings up topics that you would usually overlook and not think about when you try to reflect on who you are as a person. I believe that this is good for self-discovery by being used as a good starting point on how you would want to approach the world. Here is the link if you are interested in taking it:

https://www.16personalities.com/free-personality-test 

Overall, the journey of independence and self-discovery is a long one. Don’t feel compelled to completely figure out who you are over the next few months, as discovering yourself is based on the circumstances you experience throughout your whole lifetime. The tips I provided may just be ideas on brainstorming the idea of who you are, as I’ve certainly dealt with the question myself. I hope that these tips may help you!