Explore Yourself Before You Settle

Over the last few months I've learned alot.I've been in contact with different people in different spaces in life and I notice one common thread."CHAINS" but the funny thing is from my position I'm chained by force and their chains are self secured. Life is barley being scratched within their existence and they possess limitless potential,but daily allow external factors to direct their internal life. This is why they are unhappy ,unsatisfied , unfulfilled and are stuck in a cycle in which they can't seem to break free of the same hurts and pains. Temporary pleasure is partying, smoking ,drinking, sex , meaningless relationships all in an effort to break up the monotony and the boring reality they call life. what's crazy is I'm locked up and its only physical they are locked up mentally but have physical liberation. Think of a luxury car sitting there looking good, would love the chance to drive it you pop the hood and there is nothing ? no engine no parts nothing , that's how alot of people are, they will put on the best and inside feel the worse.A Void that they will fill with anything that will promise to make them feel better.
sooooo this brings the question how does someone get out of this state of mind ? how does someone take the first step to free themselves from their self constructed prisons? 
1 -realize that you are in one ...realize that the trials and tribulations you face in life come as a effect of your thoughts what you feed into ,who you surround yourself with what you do with spare time ? how you see yourself? all these things shape your daily reality not the other way around.
2- Take the time to inventory yourself ..who am I? what do I want in life? what am I doing daily to get that? what energy am I showing right now? am I positive ,am I negative? what things do I use to escape life? is that a healthy option? how does my method of escape relate to my issue? if it doesn't does it make sense to do it anyway or do I do things for the feeling not the purpose? these are the questions you must continue to ask yourself and through this you build an understanding of who you are.
3- embrace your passion ,your talent or divine gift that is your individuality,it is what your purpose is. Many people run from this because sometimes they feel weird makes them an outcast but to be themselves enables them to break up the normal routine of social life and pave their own road and way. this is a key to fulfillment ,doing you..
These are just 3 ways to begin. The depth of who we are as human beings is truly breath taking and even from my position I've witnessed how great of an individual I can be and who I really am. Free of all the masks and fronts and it is the most beautiful feeling to know and love yourself and have a inner confidence that your outter wealth will in time match your inner wealth for it is understood that" true wealth is of the heart and mind not the pocket "

for anyone who took the time to read and dwell on this thank you and I hope you consider this perspective don't get caught up in where I am just find the truth in what I say......7