Every now and then things happen in your life that make you want to take stock of who you are, where you are and how you got to where you are. It's usually a significant event, however sometimes it can be something that appears benign to the casual observer ... but to you, its manifestation at a particular moment in time and under the right circumstances, has the same effect as if it were a clear game changer.
But the thing about taking stock during these moments, in my opinion, is that you really aren't in any useful frame of mind to do a very good job of either stock taking or building a plan to deal with the results. You're either too up or too down. You're not really rationale, after all "something" has just happened ... you've been startled out of your stupor, your lizard brain has taken over to respond to the "threat", your more rationale human brain has been instinctively shut down .. its fight or flight time. In all likelihood, given the emotive energy present during one of these "oh shit" moments, you're probably legally impaired. It’s like falling in love ... it feels nice but it’s been proven, by people who spend our tax dollars proving these types of things, that you are not functioning on any plane that is either remotely rationale or reliable. Don't believe me ... go ahead take a good look at your life partner right now ... now think back to how you felt about seeing them in the heady courting days before farts were funny ... is your tummy all a flutter, I seriously doubt it. If it is ... take a Tums, it should settle down before bed time.
Despite the fact we are reacting to an experience that is transitory at best, we suddenly feel a need to question ourselves deeply, find meaning and reason behind our moment. We launch ourselves into some sort of self discovery mode and more often than not, having no real skill at this, fall far short of any real insight.
Pop icons, psychos, socio-paths, emotional cripples, ego maniacs, and just plain crazy MFs aside, most people are just trying to live decent and productive lives, grab a few good meals, belong somewhere and maybe rip off something strange... okay maybe not that last bit.
Now if you buy-in to the possibility of this opinion being remotely accurate then here's my advice to you; when the pooh hits the fan and a round of self discovery seems imminent.... stop what you are doing and drink heavily. Not because that's going to solve anything, quite the contrary, it will probably make it worse but at least you'll have a good reason for behaving like an ass.
We don't come with manuals and there is no real factory setting (we just make that up) ... if you want self discovery do it when your completely certain you don't need to ... you'll probably get more out of it in the long run and you won't have any excuse for not taking your own advice.
