[chris5745]

I don’t like this gatekeeping philosophy. I feel that this line of thinking discourages self reflection because the first thing we usually notice when we look honestly at ourselves is what we don’t like about ourselves, but that is just a small part of who we really are. Discomfort from self awareness may be the first step to self improvement. Instead of (falsely) equating mental discomfort with causing “all problems”, we should instead work to understand our imperfections and work together to correct them.

[camjohnson26]

The point of the quote is that people use distraction to mask the discomfort of sitting alone with their thoughts and that this distraction causes problems. It’s not saying that the discomfort is a problem.

[chris5745]

Distraction isn’t the problem, the inability to face one’s self is the problem, and distraction is the solution. However, even with distraction, there is still insight. It just comes indirectly.

[therealdrag0]

Can you elaborate on why you think distraction is the solution?

[chris5745]

Sure. I believe distraction is a solution for many because it allows them to discover the self at their own pace. It’s a more indirect route that may take longer, but which may be less psychologically jarring compared to direct introspection. For these types, self discovery might involve something as simple as watching a film and identifying with both the hero and the villain, something which hadn’t happened heretofore in their development. The film was intended as a distraction from the self, but the self is not avoidable; we constantly compare “not self” to “self” and update our world view based on these comparisons. Distractions may help people cope with their unavoidable development. In trying times, more of us may need more distractions because we are developing at a breakneck pace. I disapprove of shaming people for coping with their growth using distraction, because that’s how they prefer to learn.

[austincheney]

> the first thing we usually notice when we look honestly at ourselves

Most people cannot achieve that level of objectivity or self-awareness. That is measurable.

[Talanes]

I'm not convinced anyone is. Full objectivity is hindered by our minds ability to guess and rationalize.

Personally I find all attempts at self-knowledge are just a constant game of trying to sieve truth from rationalization, and I go back and forth on which is which constantly. Ultimately I cannot tell the difference within myself, and I cannot trust that anyone else can either.

[austincheney]

I wasn’t speaking to a philosophical maxim, but rather practical application. Self-awareness is a real thing that can be objectively measured comparative between different people.

[Talanes]

What's your method for measuring that? The general personality models that I've seen really only seem to be testing for a minimum amount of self-awareness.

[austincheney]

I don’t. I’m not a psychologist.

[elbear]

> Full objectivity is hindered by our minds ability to guess and rationalize.

One of the main claims of some meditative traditions is that with enough practice you get to experience the workings of the mind. Once you get to experience them directly, you can see that they're projections and you can see through them.