Caring Guy, we all are seeking ourselves, you aren’t alone. I think why so many of us get lost finding who we are is due to our investments to society. Hang with me here… Our job, our good reputation to uphold, our regrets, our future plans, our material possessions, etc… We become all these things and it’s who we are to everyone else around us. But, who are we to ourselves? We get overwhelmed with society’s “traps,” if you will, and begin to deal with it in unique ways. Sometimes its anger, sometimes we have shopping addictions, some of us overeat, we smoke, cut ourselves, abuse alcohol, do drugs, etc… all these things are distractions from ourselves as well as distractions from society… It’s how we blindly attempt to deal with it all and it’s a very lonely middle ground that has no benefit in any possible way.

So, my invitation to you is to take a week off of society. Yes, society. Not a vacation, like most of us think of when we take a vacation (That would be another lonely way to deal with the stress of society and get you nowhere, just like the alcoholic, the smoker, the hoarder, etc.). This means take enough time away from work, family, friends, habits, everything gets left behind for a few days. Do what you need to do to help those understand who deserve to know your plan. Don’t feel like you’re betraying anyone because the people you love need someone you can be proud to call yourself, so they want this as much as you do, if they truly love you and understand. Then, plan something out you would never think to do… Hike a mountain, bike to another state, go camping, swim the damn atlantic ocean. I don’t care what it is, but go nuts with this week off. Most likely, if you succeed, you will find a place “alone” enough to find a glimpse of yourself when there are no distractions remaining. All that stress will leave the body. First, before anything is accomplished, you will probably cry, and cry very hard. Anger, stress, pain, fear… it will all turn into tears (its pure form). From there, progress can be made. Your body cleanses that way to prepare for a new person (you). Out there on this journey of yours, there is nobody to judge you, nobody to ridicule you, nobody and nothing who/that can lead you astray. With no judgements, who else can you be other than yourself? Imagine how good that will feel to truly be yourself and get in touch with your soul once again… Good luck, friend!