Do you know yourself?
Yes, I know your answer is positive but my next question is: How much?
If you really know yourself, try writing down ten points each about your personality, aspirations and relationships, to understand what I am trying to say.
As we shed off our childhood and adolescent illusions and step into the real world, we realize that life is much more than just dreams and expectations.
First we have to define those concepts, break them into pieces and perceive what is going to work for us. We have to anticipate the range of our flight. It is at such a time that that we start understanding ourselves.
Knowing your real self begins with a journey within – a journey we never dare to undertake! We invent excuses, delude ourselves thinking we have no time; sometimes we may be genuinely too busy to introspect.
We live in compartments, we perform different roles, sometimes we have to pretend to be what we are not and thus we don’t pay much attention to our true selves.
In one of the interview sessions, the one basic question we asked the interviewees was: ‘what are your strengths and weaknesses?’
Invariably, they stumbled upon this question. They paused to think and could only mention one or two of them.
As I smiled at them to ease the situation, a serious dialogue would emanate in my mind. I snubbed it at those times to introspect in my leisurely hours, to understand why this was such a difficult question.
While I could come up with many answers so far as my own strengths were concerned, weaknesses would elude me and I had to think deeply to dig them out.
Probably we try to push our weaknesses under the carpet.
To know yourself, know your weaknesses and your fears even before you know your strengths. Those monsters of fear that we try to shove into the deepest crevices become empowered and keep lurking around the corners. The shadows of those fears dissipate only when we pull them out into light and talk to them.
To know yourself, try to answer the following questions:
- How many fears are still lurking around you and how many have you buried temporarily?
- How many lies do you tell yourself to satiate your ego?
- How much have you learnt from your mistakes?
- How much wisdom have you picked up from your surroundings?
- How much of your laughter is genuine?
To know yourself,
- You have to understand your emotions and capabilities and how far you can go to accomplish your goals,
- How well you can handle your failures and your unfulfilled dreams,
- How much you would like to acquire in terms of material possessions,
- What are your boundaries,
- How much do you care for the people around you
“Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom.” ~ Lao Tzu
Self-confabulation for knowing yourself:
We often talk to ourselves to clarify our doubts, to form our views and overcome the difficult situations. It is this conversation, which acquaints us with our real self. Our opinions are usually shaped by people around us – our parents, teachers, peers, friends…our own perceptions are drowned in their guidance and control.
Self-reflection melts the mist of this guidance. It unshackles us and encourages us to think freely, to think differently so that we can take the reigns of our real self in our own hands.
How Sharing helps:
The next step is to share your thoughts with your digital partner, which just listens calmly and makes you think further. It doesn’t dishearten or criticize, it lets you relax and reach at a conclusion at your own will.
Earlier I used to write my wishes and doubts in a journal but with the advent of smart phones, we don’t even have to reach for a pen!
Some thoughts just come and go, some dreams are quite impractical and some may be beyond our reach but by writing them down, we can ponder over them, trying to figure out whether they resonate with us and exhort them out of our system to feel better.
Our true selves, our potential and determination get revealed at such moments when we try to dissect our thoughts and emotions with our own self.
How Introspection helps:
Are you capricious? Do you get influenced by others’ expectations? If you feel that you are walking the path, which makes you wonder where you are heading…introspection on daily basis, before you step into the land of slumber, can really help.
At such moments we don’t have the intolerance or the prejudice working against our colleagues, friends and kindred who may have wronged us. We just have a calm and patient mind, free from all ill feelings to understand our reactions.
That inner voice, which we snub in the presence of others, is most active now and we too are more receptive. You can discover the reasons of your indecisiveness; know how much you revere your values and what is your real passion.
Freedom of thought and action lies at the core of knowing yourself. They play a significant role in our development too. I didn’t know myself till I got these opportunities.
If you have liked the above excerpt from my book Allow Yourself To Be A Better Person, please click on the link to read more.
How did you discover your real self? How important it is for you? I am waiting to hear from you.
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Thank you for your support. Please share your valuable reflections, they are much appreciated.
-Balroop Singh
