” A life without examination is not worth living ”
~Socrates
What does it mean to know yourself? Socrates’ proclamation to Know thyself is still, to this day, the subject of philosophical debate.
It takes boldness to pursue who we are. To delve deep into our purpose, the calling we have known in our quietest moments, and the hopes we are reluctant to verbalize.
“It is by knowing himself, by seeking in himself, that man can find wisdom.” If we pursue knowing ourselves, we must focus on our true nature. Socrates believed that knowledge is inherent within man, not external, and learning to remember who we are is critical to that knowledge.
When we come into this incarnation, we know who we are, and quickly as we grow, we begin to forget. So as adults, it is about remembering to become who we are meant to be. Finding those answers is accomplished by asking ourselves questions, then challenging and testing the solutions to see if they hold.
To be honest with ourselves, in theory, seems easy. But, unfortunately, it is not and is often avoided.
It takes courage to look inside. Accepting what we see can be too painful or ugly to process, even when no one is in the room to judge us. So instead, we keep the stories we tell about ourselves alive. Yet, these stories only create a veil to hide, shielding us from ourselves and the world.
Oscar Wilde said if you want to be a grocer, a politician, or a judge, you will invariably become one; that is your punishment. If you never know what you want to be, if you live what some might call the dynamic life but what I will call the artistic life, if each day you are unsure of who you are and what you know, you will never become anything, and that is your reward.
The truth is we are not nouns; we are verbs. We are in the continuous act of becoming. The soul’s journey is to explore the paths our inner knowing guides us to.
Be aware when you are striving for your truth. To know oneself does not need validation from others, just the strength of our convictions. Naysayers are everywhere, those who want to diminish our dreams. They have not found the courageousness to explore the deepest folds of who there are. They have not stretched into the person they could become.
Diving Into Who We Are
Recognize where you want to change. This may occur when we face our pain points, those areas in life that are uncomfortable, and often those situations or relationships that repeatedly reappear. We must choose to change; when we do so, we change the future.
Moving out of destructive patterns and what our primal brain considers survival modes will unlock the path to becoming our ultimate and creative selves.
Ask Yourself:
What is happening that is uncomfortable?
Does this serve me?
What is my responsibility in creating it?
Who benefits from me being the way I am?
What would happen if I changed my behavior?
Why is it good for me to stay this way?
What are the consequences to me by staying the same?
Is this behavior, belief, or relationship serving me as the person I am becoming?
Where, when, and how did this belief first come into my consciousness?
Am I willing to let it go and replace it with one that fulfills who I am today?
Fall in love with yourself. Start by identifying what you like and love about yourself and build upon it.
Do the same with your life. Find the positives and focus on creating more of what you like and none of what you don’t like.
Two things cannot occupy space at the same time. Without letting go of the past, we cannot replace it with the future. Just as sacrificing ourselves at the expense of others does not place our well-being as a priority. Wisdom is difficult to define; however, when we have the capacity for discernment, we remove the veil of unknowing. Inner wisdom develops as we learn to let go of the stories, beliefs, and behavior we were conditioned to be and instead remember our souls’ calling.
It takes the desire to become more and the tenacity to keep working on it. Many say one can never know oneself completely; this may be true. But, it is through the journey that growth happens. Surround yourself with those who support your explorations, and keep striving to uncover what resides within.
It’s taken me a lifetime to scratch the surface and understand this. I have concluded that to block our heart’s voice is to clog our soul’s lifeline. By doing so, we hinder our life potential. So I encourage you to go forth and discover the magnitude of who you are. Be brave, take a deep breath, and dive into your becoming.
Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes.
~ Carl Jung.
