Social Projection

It is an internal screen which is constantly reflecting other people's opinions of us. As we grow through our lives, these reflections biologically mould our personalities. We believe that these characteristics are what we are firmly made of. I think that this screen is here as a part of an ancient survival mechanism. That if one didn't fit into a social mould, they would be outcast from their community. This meant that they were ostracized from society to fend for themselves.

In the ancient period that might have meant a threat to their survival. Because living in the wild was dangerous. Living in a community helped create a sense of togetherness, belongingness and safety in numbers. I think that a primal part of us fears exactly this.

When we are pursuing this mindset - we are constantly moulding ourselves to fit into other people's realities of us. But this is impossible. The external world will have immeasurable demands of us, and we will be unable to fulfil them.

However, when we become aware of how we use this screen, we'll know what expectations are obvious, normal and necessary, and those that are intrusive and neglectful of us.

There is a space inside us that is constantly reflecting our day-to-day pursuits. By this I mean, that when we take a step back and ask ourselves - we'll know where or what we need to grow towards and what needs to be left behind.

I am a firm believer that we in ourselves are as expansive as we are limited. We need one another - to know that we are not alone in this. I would further like to add that we are nothing without one another. We need others to know that we make sense. Our life experiences on our own can feel isolating and lonely. But when we share our presence, we learn that despite our experiences being different from one another we are not alone. Shared experiences, the need for connection and evolution are what invigorate our life experiences.

Why are we here, if not for one another?