The Importance of Knowing Self
Having an understanding of one’s self is vitally important in life.
The key to happiness, peace and security is to know what makes you tick.
You need to have an intimate relationship with yourself.
So many of us know what food we like, what movies and games we enjoy, our favourite colours, and what type of people we like being around.
However, this is a superficial knowledge of self, and you need to go down much deeper and find out exactly what you stand for, your values and beliefs, and what is your “True North”, which guides you down this path called life?
Knowing yourself is your eternal life’s homework
Felicia Day
Getting to Know You
You see, before you can communicate, interact, lead, guide and respect others.
Moreover, before you can achieve, grow and become successful in whatever you do.
You need to get a handle on “You” you need to understand how you will react to things like frustration, rejection, disappointment and the emotions of success and failure.
This will inevitably determine whether you will succeed or fail.
If you ask someone who they are, they will normally respond with things like; “I’m Mark” or “I’m a plumber, a student or a doctor”, but these descriptions do not say who you are.
Who you are, is based upon an Identity of your internal belief system.
These belief systems, whether good or bad, beautiful or ugly, true or false, are based upon concepts that you have learned and made your own throughout the years of growing up and living on this planet.
Consequently, “the concept you accept as true is the concept that controls you” Yes, this is what you are all about.
It is this that will ultimately determine and control your behaviour.
Knowing others is wisdom, knowing yourself is enlightenment
Lao Tzu
This is who you are; you are a product of your own belief system.
So let’s ask the question again, who are you? “I am a man who stands by his word, is honest and upright, I respect the opinions and beliefs of others, I am compassionate and empathetic to those in need, am slow to speak and quick to listen and believe in the freedom of choice” Wow!
Now that’s someone who knows who he is; he has an identity unique to him; he has nothing to prove – because he knows who he is!
What Motivates & Excites You?
So, before you can get the world to respond to your needs and wants, you need to understand what makes you excited and motivated.
Do you believe you are focused or are you just floating around, hoping that something will happen?
Are you within the audience, or are you on the stage?
Do you follow others or are you a leader?
Once again, for you to understand and know yourself is to know how you will behave and react in a given situation.
This is the GREATEST and most PROLIFIC KNOWLEDGE you will ever have – knowing this will give you the confidence, the assurance and peace of mind that will guide you to a higher life.
Your success or failure will follow your actions – The Right Actions If… You Know You!
Have a look at the following and then test yourself.
How do you relate to the following questions?
- Do you understand why you do what you do, or do you just act on impulse? (impulsive behavior)
- Do you want something because others have it, or is it based upon a real need? (envy is not rational)
- Do you know what leadership is, or do you just want to be in charge – get the glory and the shine? (ego, arrogance, pride and narcissism)
- Can you accept disagreements, or does it escalate into an argument?
- Do you avoid confrontation; do you say “Yes” when you actually mean “No”?
- Are you able to share and work as a team, or are you a loner?
- Can you make decisions or are you afraid of failure?
- Have you the ability to follow – through, or do you hope it will just happen?
- How about, ‘throwing in the towel’, do you give-up easily?
- What about taking short cuts to success at the expense of honesty and integrity?
Maybe some of the questions touch a sensitive nerve with you? If so, that’s great.
Until you make peace with who you are, you’ll never be content with what you have
Doris Mortman
One of the first steps in learning about self is awareness because the next logical step to awareness is acknowledgement!
Remember, you can only change that which you are aware of and have acknowledged!
Becoming more aware and understanding why you do what you do and learning to control your emotions will help you achieve greater results in life.
You’re only as good as your values
Herb Brooks
What Do You Value?
To begin, we need to learn:-
- What is important to you and others
- Take responsibility for your emotional state
- Teach your mind to become more focused and solution orientated
- Uncover and deal with any limiting and suspect beliefs
Your values should guide you to what’s important.
What you value determines what life means to you.
Furthermore, when you do not know your own values or you are disengaged from them – you become unmotivated.
You need to re-connect and get properly aligned to your values.
Find out what motivates you.
Keep your values positive, because your values become your destiny
Mahatma Gandhi
Spend just a few moments thinking about some activities in your life that really excited you.
They should be things that really mattered to you at that time and also gave you great satisfaction.
Then answer the following:–
- Which activities gave you the greatest sense of satisfaction?
- What skills or abilities did you most like using?
- Why did you like using them?
- Do you notice any patterns in the list of things that mattered to you?
Now think about what motivates you in different areas of your life, e.g. work, relationships, family etc.
What values do your hold in your heart about these areas of your life?
Balance in your life will enable you to give attention to all areas of your life.
In addition, once you have learned to balance your priorities, you will become more motivated and inspire others.