Lucian Freud has a quote that’s always stuck with me, and I’ve returned to it often during the lockdowns.

“My idea of travel is a downward travel really. Getting to know where you are, better, and exploring feelings that you know more deeply. I always think that thing ‘knowing something by heart’ gives you a depth of possibility which is more potential than seeing new sights, however marvelous and exciting they are.”

Sure. It's also an excellent way of digging yourself into falsehood or untenable positions you believe so deeply you cannot escape without completely breaking down. Reality is the check and balance on thinking.

But wouldn't a deep investigation of reality and the world, of which we and our feelings are a part, more conclusively check and balance our thinking?