We humans are used to thinking of ourselves as self-aware, or self-conscious.

Except that most of the time we aren’t.   We work on auto-pilot, following our habitual paths, working through habitual behaviours without consciously reflecting at all.

We do have moments of conscious awareness – when we’re thinking, or working out a problem – but these really are moments.  7 seconds on average.

Except when we are in conversation with other humans.   In conversation, we think, we reflect, we are fully self-conscious.   Sometimes for hours on end.   You might even say that conversations with other people are where we fully realise ourselves.

And of course, you can’t have a proper conversation without being fully conscious of the other participants too.

You can’t be seen until you learn to see.

Not even by yourself.