“If I have to spend more time like a cog in a wheel — sacrificing my own creativity and passion to help someone else's vision come to life — I'll scream,” I thought looking at the Excel spreadsheet on the screen. At that moment, I received two important elements of self-knowledge: Awilda prefers to work for herself & Awilda needs to be involved in work that she is both passionate about and stimulates her creativity. In the milliseconds after this information was received, I had to make a choice: would I dismiss this information as an unsubstantiated thought, or could I include this new information as self-knowledge and use it to help change my trajectory? I chose to accept the information because the beliefs are based on the feeling that I am no longer capable of happening like mine. I knew I wasn't motivated to keep going and I was capable of so much more. The self-knowledge that I gained in that moment was invaluable. Self-knowledge is the knowledge or understanding of one's capabilities, character, feelings and motivations. You can also think of self-knowledge as self-understanding. Self-knowledge is the foundation in the arc of success because success requires intentionality. It's hard to be intentional if you don't have a clear idea of the type of person you are, what you can do, how you feel, and what motivates you. Fortunately, every experience and thought that you can provide you with data that gives you the opportunity to gain more self-knowledge - just like my moment of clarity on the computer. However, there is no doubt that trying to understand yourself can be a big challenge in life because you are both the perceiver and the object of perception. Consequently, the idea of actively striving to achieve self-awareness can be intimidating and stressful, especially if you feel connected to yourself. Luckily, when the process is broken down into 4 digestible steps, it's a lot less scary and much more fun to solve cool personalized puzzles. Here are 4 steps to actively achieving more self-knowledge:
Step 1 - Take the character into inventory
Inventorying your character is the first step. Ask yourself: "What are my various mental and moral qualities?” You quickly become enraged; You are conservative; Are you easy to love or are you super guarded? Perhaps you are incredibly honest, or dedicated to your spiritual beliefs. All of these things contribute to your character. If you do not know the answers to these questions, we will study your experience. You will find examples from your life experiences that support these character traits.
Step 2 - Understand What You Can Do
Understanding what you can do is the next rung on the ladder of self-knowledge. While you can always become more capable, being honest about your current function is critical. You don't want to apply for your dream job knowing that you can't meet the requirements of the role. If you have a solid understanding of your strengths and weaknesses, it will allow you to use your abilities in a way that you don't overexert yourself. Also, knowing where you fall short in your abilities gives you the ability to actively seek the necessary skills to change that reality.
Step 3 - Feel Feels
Being able to identify what and why you feel a certain way is an integral part of self-knowledge. It may also be the most difficult of all. Feelings are difficult. They give us a lot of information, but they are not always soft and fluffy. Spending time getting to know what you relate to in different parts of your life will give you a lot of data. Here, again, life experiences provide fertile ground for evidence that can help you understand your feelings more clearly. For example, you may be confused about your feelings of applying for a particular job or study program. To gain clarity, think about how you feel in the moments associated with this decision. If you feel anxious and insecure every time you try to apply, then your feelings may be trying to signal that this is not the best solution for you. Sometimes, feelings give us information we do not want to admit, although we know that this is valid and true. The choice to integrate information is always yours.
Step 4 - Questions of Motivation
The last piece of the self-knowledge puzzle is to understand your motivation. The question arises: why do you do what you do? Common motivators: money, prestige, recognition, family responsibilities, freedom and self-realization. You can easily identify with one of these common motivators, or you can be motivated by something completely different than the desire to save the planet or just to live peacefully. Freedom, family, and an unwavering desire to help others is what motivates me. However, I want to warn you that the first thing that comes to mind when you think about what makes you may not be a real source of motivation. For example, many people think that money is what drives them, when in fact, it is the pursuit of stability that is their true source of motivation. Learn 9 types of motivation that make it possible to achieve your dreams.
Final Thoughts
Once you've taken the time to intentionally collect more data, it's up to you what to do with it. Will you integrate it and change your trajectory, or ignore it and continue on your way? Whatever you choose to do will surely communicate the information you have learned about yourself in the form of solving self-knowledge puzzles. Inevitably, the self-knowledge you have gained will help create tremendous clarity on your life path. When you're not clear about your character, abilities, feelings, and motivations, it's easier to create a deliberate strategy for success. Self-knowledge puts you on the fast track to success, and lack of information can lead to delays, distractions and accidents. If you truly know yourself, you are more likely to confidently achieve your goals on time.
More About Self Understanding
- How Self-Reflection Gives You a Happier and More Successful Life
- How to become more self-aware and strive to become better
- How to change yourself and change your life