Acharya Prashant explains that clarity is attained by observing the fog and haze that obscures it. He suggests that if people who discourage risk or promote a comfortable life surround an individual, it is because those same tendencies occupy the individual from within. Observing these external voices is a form of self-observation, as their arguments only resonate because they align with one's own internal doubts. One must look at the lives of these peopleātheir personal lives, professional choices, and even their political opinionsāand ask if that is the way one truly wants to live. He further clarifies that the desire to counter or argue with such people indicates that their words have power over the listener. This power exists because something within the individual is allying with those opinions. Simply changing one's physical location will not help if the internal state remains the same, as the person will continue to attract similar company. To change this, one must clean the internal state of their own consciousness. Acharya Prashant advises seeking the company of great minds through their books and teachings, which were left behind to provide guidance. As the internal world transforms, the need to associate with cowardly people diminishes, and a natural reverence for the right kind of people grows.
