In 1492, Columbus Sailed the Ocean Blue
"Every man looks at his wood-pile with a kind of affection. I love to have mine before my window, and the more chips the better to remind me of my pleasing work." (Thoreau Chapter 13 par.15)
I agree with Thoreau. There is something extremely pleasing when you look at something you accomplished. I always have that feeling when I print out a paper I wrote or complete any other big project. When you look at it you think to yourself "Wow I did all of that." and it's a great feeling to create something or do something that wasn't there before. I think that's a pretty universal feeling among all people.
"Nay, be a Columbus to whole new continents and worlds within you, opening new channels, not of trade, but of thought." (Thoreau Chapter 18 par. 2)
I thought this was a fantastic bumper sticker type saying. To find channels of thought, it takes time and away from other people and activities, like Thoreau spending time at Walden Pond. I think that most of us would like to take the time to just sit and think and observe. I mean who doesn't want that? But I feel like if someone would want to do that, the person would be looked upon as lazy or unproductive by others. It's really a contradiction. People want to take the time to think but they don't have time. And then if they find the time, they are considered lazy. It's a never ending circle.
http://jerz.setonhill.edu/EL266/2009/09/thoreau_walden_1/#comments
I think it depends on the manner that the person sits and thinks... most of the time people claim self-reflection when all they are really doing is playing video games.
Soul searching can be very time consuming and scary! I personally do not really like to take time to think, observe yes - I love watching things but with a mindless or purely emotional response. I have no desire to find the inner me - maybe someday, maybe everyone goes through phases, but truly, I prefer to get lost in a book, which i suppose could be seen as a type of soul searching. :)