Self-awareness, in its most refined form, is first-rate intelligence. Yet, there seems to be a growing trend of outsourcing this awareness to external apparatuses. The reason? Cultivating deep self-awareness takes consistent, cognitive effort—an introspective dive that requires us to look within ourselves at a level that demands ongoing exploration. This, however, is a complex and strenuous process.

Take, for instance, the invention of the clock. Before its creation, we intuitively managed our days, aligning our actions with the natural rhythms of our bodies. But once the clock came into existence, we began to depend on this external tool to plan and structure our lives. Undoubtedly, it was beneficial for societal organization and coordination. It unified people for a common good, acting as a guideline. Yet, relying solely on this external device detached us from our internal clocks—our circadian rhythms—which vary from person to person. Every body operates differently, and these external schedules often ignore our unique biological needs.

Of course, some may argue that it would be impractical for each individual to follow their own timeline—society and the economy wouldn’t function without a common standard. But here lies the deeper point: true, first-rate intelligence—self-awareness—is paramount for success. Beneath the layers of our conscious mind lies a vast repository of knowledge, hidden within our consciousness and collective consciousness. This wealth of insight is inaccessible through conventional rational thought alone; it requires a profound level of internal exploration.

Self-awareness is the highest form of intelligence, and rationalization—while valuable—is secondary. Yes, both are necessary, but we’ve become overly reliant on the latter. Our analytical mind—the aspect that dissects, compares, and categorizes—has its limits because it draws only from accumulated knowledge. It may be sharp and powerful, but it lacks the depth and insight of a mind attuned to itself. The rational mind operates through comparison and logic, but true intelligence, the kind that comes from self-awareness, requires looking inward, beyond the surface of things.