You know that saying “No man is an island”?
It means that we need one another, we are interdependent.
We are human animals and we thrive when we are connected to one another.
Sometimes we swing to the extremes of this where we like to be completely independent, like “I don’t need anyone, I can do it myself”.
Sometimes we get too dependent or attached and we lose our sense of self, always referring to someone else.
We are all little islands attached to one another in some way though.
It is also up to our self-awareness and desire to cultivate a better relationship with ourselves to tend to the bridges between all these islands, so to say.
Check with yourself, how attached are you to all the other islands in your life, meaning, what is your relationship like with the people in your life?
This also ties in with the boundaries we have in our lives.
I want you to imagine your island, what does it look like?
What types of boundaries surround your island, or are there any?
Do you have fortifications like palisades or boundary walls that make it impenetrable by others?
Or, do you have a low fence around your island that makes it easily accessible at any time?
Are there any entry gates or doors? Are they open, closed, locked, unlocked?
Imagining your island like this will reveal more of how you interact with the world around you, whether you are more guarded or open.
Once you have a clearer idea of this, ask yourself if you are comfortable with this?
Are there aspects you would like to change?
How would you like to change it?
Are there barriers you need to maybe lower a little bit?
Or, are there barriers you need to reinforce?
Are there any bridges that need mending or restructuring?
Have you burned any bridges?
Understanding how we function as human beings, and the patterns we follow will help us make any necessary changes we need to make.
As human beings, it is okay to need and connect with others.
If we tend to withdraw, isolate, and protect it could mean we are afraid of connecting and avoiding any potential hurt.
If this is the case, we need to check in with any unprocessed pain we are holding onto.
So just remember, although no man is an island, maybe we are all just little islands connected to one another through our human nature.