“Know thyself”.  You’ve probably heard that old maxim a lot.  Recently, that maxim comes to mind as I try navigate our digital world.   Know thyself seems good advice.  Spend time with yourself. Get connected to the inner you.  That will be your rudder as you sail forward into this crazy sea of change brought on by the Internet.

Hang on though.

Who really lives alone now?  We all seem to be connected through our digital devices.  We seem to be living in networks.  What does it mean to be “you”, when we’re wired together?  Even when we’re alone, we’re together.  For good or bad.  Sherry Turkle did a TED talk, and wrote a book, about being “Alone Together”.

We used to equate growing up with the ability to function independently.  When I was younger, I thought Marlboro Man was pretty cool.  I tried to emulate him, even though I didn’t have a horse.  I’m still recovering.

These days our always-on connection leads us to consider a more “collaborative self”.

Instead of understanding our feelings through time spent alone, we’re putting our feelings out there, on the web.  We wait for responses.  Then we incorporate those responses into our thoughts.  We seem to be sharing our feelings with others, as part of discovering who we are.

First comes the feedback.  Then we figure out what direction we want to go.   Ready… fire… aim.  It’s a strategy increasingly being applied in business.   More and more, it also seems to be how we are leading our own personal lives.

People adapt in response to their changing world.  Or else they die.  That’s how evolution works.  To survive, we have to be alert for what’s new and different in our surroundings.  Then, we respond appropriately.

Today’s new includes the Internet and social media.  The more time you spend online, the more you will adapt to those surroundings.  And, “the more paths that connect you to others in your network, the more susceptible you are to what flows within it.”   You can take that to the bank (or read more in “Connected”).

Is this collaborative self approach a good way forward?   I’m guessing there would few young people with that question on their radar.  For they live it.  To be online, connected, and in a constant feedback loop with their network, is normal.

I’m all for integrating feeling, thought and action.

How are you bringing it all together, being true to yourself?  Is it through the “know thyself” or the “collaborative self” approach?[wpsr_socialbts]