10 Paths to Individualism from the Insight of Socrates

Perhaps one of the most important elements of spiritual development is learning to becoming an individual, or as Carl Jung put it, being able to "individuate" through integrating all the important aspects of life experience and not just the experiences of the ego.

The teachings of Socrates provide a number of insights into personal and spiritual development. If we do not pursue the path of self-awareness, then this leads to insecurities, we become fearful of how other's define us, of what we have to offer to other people on face value — rather than re-affirming Personal Individualism.

"The unexamined life is not worth living."

Self-examination is essential to finding Your True Self. Finding and maintaining a core individual self makes it possible to know the true nature of personal values and the impact those values have on others. Some teachings of Gnosticism hold that the average person is about 3% conscious of his or her true nature, emotions, and inner essence. If this is true, then most of us still have over 90% of inner-processes to explore through self-awareness.

"There is only one good, knowledge, and one evil, ignorance."

The aspects of ourselves that we are unaware of can cause harm to others unless we become more self-aware of what effects our actions have on the rest of the world. Ignorance is just a lack of knowledge — or an avoidance of knowledge, rather.

To develop a sense of personal courage and individual self it is important to avoid ignoring inner patterns and negative habits and to instead become aware of their effects.

"If a man is proud of his wealth, he should not be praised until it is known how he employs it."

Looking at who a person is, is also as important as looking at what a person does. Looking up to someone with riches, knowledge, or status, is a lesser reflection on their character than looking at their actions and how their own individual talents are put to use.

Developing a sense of individualism also brings with it a much stronger potential to actualize one's talents, which is a pivotal step in the path to individuation.

"Envy is the ulcer of the soul."

If a person is not able to find his or her own talents and purpose in life then jealous feelings are bound to arise. Each one of us has unique talents and potential that can never be found looking at the ego, but is ever-present in the soul. Envious feelings are often a reflection of the frustration that arises in not being able to find one's own calling or personal talents.

"Let him that would move the world first move himself."

Looking through the subjective lenses of perception we often perceive ourselves in the world "out there". Though we might not realise it, an action that aims to change the world is often in fact an action that aims to change ourselves. If a single person changes, then the world changes with him or her to some extent. This is because much of what we perceive "out there" is in fact within.

"An honest man is always a child."

In the search for self-knowledge there is a realisation that most people can relate to: life is often simpler on the surface then we make it out to be. In adulthood most people begin to reject the sense of pure happiness and understanding that was present during their childhood.

Upon removing most of the obstacles and problems that we impose over the natural order of things, life becomes more pure and direct. Truth cannot be heard with an all-serious attitude expecting scientific results and absolute answers to the meaning of all life.

"I am the wisest man alive, for I know one thing, and that is that I know nothing."

Most imposed knowledge is often contrived, or in other words, not real at all. Therefore almost as a paradox, truth is found in the absence of contrived knowledge. It is when a person removes their job, status, name, age, and so forth, that remains their true self. Likewise, it is when we remove all of the jargon and theories about a thing that remains its true nature. True wisdom then lies in clear-seeing rather than the accumulation of knowledge.

"Fame is the perfume of heroic deeds."

Even though the aim of self-consciousness is to bring about a transformation towards individualism, the unintended attention that this can bring from others should not be used as an evaluation of one's character or personal value. Each human being deserves the same value and respect, and fame for the ego should not be mixed up with the genuine value of the soul.

"Our prayers should be for blessings in general, for God knows best what is good for us."

Asking God for "things" and then being disappointed when a new car or a better job doesn't arrive the following week is sometimes perceived as a lack of care on God's side. However, having faith in God and asking for him to provide what is best for me is a wiser approach than assuming I know what is best for me in the first place.

"Life contains but two tragedies. One is not to get your heart's desire; the other is to get it."

The perceived elevation that is often assumed to exist between individuals is often just that, perceived and not real. Each of us has suffered, even in success. The nature of being human is not transcended in success for the ego or attaining personal desires, since even attaining all of our desires will not eliminate the true state of the soul.

StumbleUpon - Twitter - Facebook

Free meditation course

Join 184 subscribers

Latest Posts