Speak to Others
There's a terrible belief out there that keeping your thoughts and feelings entirely to yourself at all times somehow makes you strong. Today I'm going to do my part to dispel that myth.
Find Someone
No man is an island. You're ever as strong alone as you are with others. Say it however you want, but it's simply not possible to do everything entirely on your own without seeking the counsel of anyone else.
The first step toward doing this is to find people to interact and grow close with. This is often times not easy, especially once you leave formalized education and have to seek out connections on your own.
Navigating the social waters of adult life can be a challenge on a good day, but it is well worth it to persevere. Everyone needs at least one person to confide in to avoid creating an echo chamber in their own head.
Actually Talk
Even with your closest friends, this is the hard part. Actually opening to people, even those you have known for years, is difficult and even painful. you have to admit that you need help, or are in pain. You have to confess to being flawed and ask for advice.
But I am here to tell that both from observation and personal experience, this is an absolutely crucial thing to do on a regular basis. If you do not have people around you that you are willing to lay your thoughts bare to and accept their input, you as a person and your methods are doomed to stagnate. It's simply not possible for you to think of absolutely everything entirely on your own all the time.
Establish this kind of openness with at least one person in your life, ideally not a family member or romantic partner. A solid friendship that, while mutually beneficial, isn't motivated by some kind of primal desire or obligation. Encourage this person or people to be open and honest with you, and be sure you give them the same. Ask for their opinions, and perhaps most importantly, actually listen to them.
The importance of the willingness to do this cannot be overstated. The ability to function alone is indeed vital to success. But so too is the willingness to accept the fact that you need interaction with and support from others to become your best self.
Who Do You Talk To?
As always, I want to hear from all of you. Who are you close to? Who do you bare soul to? Tell us about the people who support you and understand you the most.