“Those who look outward dream. Those who look inward awaken.”
— Carl Jung
Jung wrote this in a letter in 1916. By then he had lost his friendship with Freud, survived four years of psychological breakdown, and was building something entirely his own. He knew from experience: as long as you search for answers outside yourself, you remain asleep.
I spent years trying to figure other people out. Then I realized I had to start with myself. That's not easy. What's inside isn't always what you'd choose to find. There's darkness in there, confusion, things you'd rather not face. But that's also where you're real. Don't try to be perfect. Try to be honest with yourself. It's harder, but it's the only thing that actually works.