There is a large part of self realization that happens through relationships with others. I've known this for a long time, but didn't fully grasp onto it until 3-5 years ago when I was on OK cupid having many online conversations and going on more dates than I can remember. My intention did not start out as exploring self or any kind of significant self improvement, but nevertheless, this is exactly what happened.

I am fairly introverted by nature and by forcing myself to interact in so many ways with so many people on a fairly intimate level, this mirroring effect of seeing myself through the eyes of others became apparent. I would learn things about myself that sometimes weren't so great and self improvement would precipitate. I would learn positive things and reinforce them. I would find myself sitting across a table on a date thinking about how this person is perceiving me. Although this would often happen in a paranoid manner, I learned to find comfort in the fact that the other person was doing the same thing whether or not on a conscious level.

This would carry over into non-dating interactions and I quickly found myself self-realizing through this mirroring effect in the company of friends, family, and co-workers. I have come to realize the importance of socialization in the realm of self realization and self improvement. I have been in the past more prone to isolation and self discovery through solitary practice, but this has become less so with my discovery of seeing self through the lens of interaction.