Men in a cave: Why awareness is our way out to the light

You may remember Plato’s philosophical allegory about people sitting in a cave, watching the shadows of objects carried behind them, unaware that what they see are only shadows—not reality itself. The images projected on the wall are their entire world. If they were to turn their heads and look behind them, they would be shocked by how profoundly reality differs from what they had taken to be real.

This allegory vividly illustrates how subjective the reality we live in can be. Often, we are not truly aware of ourselves; we fail to perceive the connections between different phenomena and are unable to observe what we see without immediately judging or interpreting it.

And yet, as the founder of a medtech company—and simply as a person who has spent a lifetime working on my body and spirit—I am convinced that awareness, in its true sense, is the key to both mental and physical health.

When we develop our intuition and our ability to perceive connections between things—to observe rather than interpret—we naturally begin to understand ourselves and the world around us more clearly. We start to truly listen to ourselves and to recognize what our body and mind genuinely need.

This is the real foundation of health.

“Easier said than done,” you might say. And yet, awareness is something you can begin to practice today.

Below are several techniques I personally use in my daily life.

It may sound simple—even strange—but intentional silence is a powerful tool. Have you noticed how, when we stop speaking, our attention shifts inward and outward at the same time? Silence reduces unnecessary stimulation and allows perception to come forward. It creates space for awareness to emerge.

Our minds constantly narrate, judge, and explain reality. By consciously interrupting this inner commentary—even for a few seconds—we learn to experience the world directly, without filters. This practice trains clarity and reduces mental noise.

Not-doing means breaking habitual patterns of perception and behavior. It can be as simple as observing familiar surroundings without naming objects or resisting the urge to act automatically. This disrupts routine perception and restores the freshness of awareness.

We are used to thinking about ourselves in fixed terms: I am lazy, I am caring, I am fearful, I am anxious. Often, however, these definitions are projections of how others see us. By loosening rigid self-definitions and reducing the need to constantly explain and defend ourselves, we free up energy and become less reactive and more present.

This is the practice of observing one’s own reactions, habits, and emotional patterns with precision and without judgment. The key here is not to try to correct or evaluate ourselves—we simply observe our state and acknowledge it: I am tense right now. I am very angry. I lost control. I feel joy.

The effects of these small daily practices have a direct impact on both body and mind. Awareness restores the body’s natural signals, allowing us to better understand and feel its real needs—for example, when it is time to rest or to pause. We begin to sense our internal rhythm, and as a result, we sleep better and more deeply.

All of this is, in fact, a direct consequence of how awareness influences our ability to make decisions based on our true inner needs rather than external pressure or unconscious habits.

And of course, it is difficult to overestimate the impact that stopping the internal dialogue and reducing self-importance has on our health. Stress levels decrease, cortisol production is reduced, the nervous system stabilizes, and the body gradually shifts from a state of constant alert to one of recovery and regeneration. Over time, this supports immune function, hormonal balance, emotional resilience, and overall vitality.

Awareness does not add something artificial to our lives; it removes what no longer serves us—and allows health to emerge naturally.

And now, let us return to those poor Platonic figures we left sitting in the cave at the beginning of this narrative. If one of them were to make it outside and see reality as it truly is, would it be a shock? Undoubtedly, yes. But would they want to return to their companions once they have seen real life, rather than mere shadows? Most likely, no.

When awareness enters our lives, it may initially feel like a trial. Yet once this path is chosen, it becomes difficult—if not impossible—to return to the shadows.

Because that’s when we step into the light of our true selves.

This article was written in cooperation with Lado Okhotnikov