In this post, I extend the conversation from my earlier blog “When Small is Big”, where we explored building a structured learning path for skills and subjects that we need to Master.

This post takes a step back to examine the process behind choosing the subjects or skills we seek to master.

Last week I read a very interesting famous metaphors in Western philosophy called as “Allegory of Cave”

Let’s take a moment to grasp the message of the ‘Allegory of the Cave’ before exploring its link to our subject choices.

Allegory of Cave

Allegory – An allegory is a story, poem, picture, or narrative in which the characters, events, or symbols represent deeper meanings—usually abstract ideas, moral lessons, or political/social messages.

“The allegory of the cave, or Plato’s Cave, was presented by the Greek philosopher Plato in his work Republic (514a–520a) to compare “the effect of education and the lack of it on our nature”.”

Plato describe a group of people who have lived chained to the wall of a cave all of their lives, facing a blank wall.

The people watch shadows projected on the wall from objects passing in front of a fire behind them, and give names to these shadows.

The shadows are the prisoners’ reality.

A prisoner who escapes the cave realizes that the shadows on the wall are not reality, but only illusions, and he can now see the true reality beyond them.

The prisoners have no desire to leave and choose to remain in their confinement, clinging to the illusions that form their manufactured reality.

Let’s return to the core topic—how the subjects we choose to master connect with the ‘Allegory of the Cave’.

The prisoner that we are talking in given Allegory is us or the person who want to master the subject or skill.

The creators of the shadows may represent people who, knowingly or unknowingly, shape our subject choices by projecting a reality that doesn’t belong to us (shadow).

• Society
• Education System
• Parental pressure
• Media.

The core challenge is to recognize who we truly are and question ourselves: what is my genuine ‘why’ for choosing this subject?

Genuine ‘Why’ can come from asking right questions and understanding the fact the projected shadow are not the real shadow.

Once your “Why” is clear reaching to how is not difficult

The “Why” should come from

• Curiosity
• Desire to Learn
• Look Beyond Trends
• Journal the “Why”
• Imagine the Long Run

It can also come from asking Why do I want to learn this?” Write the answer, then ask “Why?” again. Repeat 4–5 times. By the end, you’ll uncover your core motivation.

It can also come if you Test through action – Try small experiments, a short course, a project, a hobby) to see if the subject genuinely excites you.

Wisdom begins when your true Why guides you.