Reflection:
We spend so much time looking outward — to jobs, titles, possessions, even the applause of others — as if these external things could finally define us. But Rilke reminds us: the only journey worth taking is inward. Everything else is a distraction.
The only title that matters is being ourselves. And that’s harder than it sounds. The world keeps pushing us to become our “Best Selves,” while also telling us exactly how that should look. There’s a whole industry built on convincing us we’re incomplete without their blueprint. But let’s be honest — half the people preaching this gospel don’t seem to know who the hell they are.
Self-discovery isn’t about chasing a trend or polishing a brand. It’s a lifestyle, a discipline, a refusal to outsource our identity. To walk inward is to risk discomfort, to face truths we’d rather bury, to learn how to be at home in our own skin. But it’s the only road that doesn’t run out beneath us.
Prompt for readers:
What would it look like for you to stop chasing the world’s version of a “best self” and start living your own?
Memoirs of Madness 