A thorough field of rational thought, thanks for this, it got me thinking :)
My first reaction is to defend the benefits of self-awareness, for I believe myself to have received some"thing" from pursuing awareness.
That is the game though, pursuing awareness. I think you could drop the "self" from it - we agree that there is nothing to become more aware of than what our own mind thinks. (Would welcome discussion on this ;) )
Stepping on that stone of "all is self," we can start to see our own interaction with social groups, status quos, communities, and pretty much anything as learning more about the self.
Where to go next? Well, if you agree that "engaging with the world" is a euphemism for "self-exploration" then, you've got to remember everyone else has got this function present within them. Is it parallel, do we intersect?
That's impossible to say, however the chance exists that we can't agree on what "happiness" is, or what "being free" really means.
Systems of thought might attempt to win over your imagination with certain values and ideals - in-sight comes from ordinary moments like these, sitting and breathing, maybe drinking apple juice and looking at a flower.
I propose identities are like flowers - silently beautiful - sometimes fragile - always undergoing change.
Thank you for the opportunity to have these thoughts <3
You mention to drop the self, this indicates that you have gone a lot further than I have. I got three points from your comment, a paragraph below for each.
I have heard it said that thought itself, is the origin of our delusion, after we have become aware of our thoughts. Not on the day to day, superficial thoughts of course, I think that goes without saying. But I am still trying to get my head around it.
"Systems of thought might attempt to win over your imagination with certain values and ideals - in-sight comes from ordinary moments like these, sitting and breathing, maybe drinking apple juice and looking at a flower."
Agree to this, and I'll add, who is the audacious being dictating things such as values, ideals, morals even, and worst of all virtues.
I think I understand the last part of your post to mean that, your identity is yours, it is not you. hopefully I am right :) (not that being right is important) haha
Also stop making me think, it takes time.
I think you picked up what I was putting down, in a cool and unique way might I add :)
I just want you to question what you're aware of. Is there you, and other? Where does the self begin and end?
I don't have the answers to these questions, but I encourage you to make up your own answers and test them with your reality.
You are correct, you own your identity if you want to, although some people like to be controlled o.o
I'm going to have to put some thought into that one, lets hope my thoughts don't lead me astray.