Self-Discovery, What is it?
"Knowing others is wisdom. Knowing yourself is enlightenment." – Lao Tzu.
When a thing, or its use, is not known, it becomes subject to abuse. When we do not know ourselves in the same token, we are exposed to abuse, both by ourselves and others. When we know and understand ourselves, we can set the right boundaries for the things we are willing to accept and not accept. We can know where to extend and where not.
"That wonderful and terribly frightening journey of self-discovery. That process of growth, or being an independent person, of learning who you are and what you want from life, is the real secret of life, happiness, and beauty." – Diane von Furstenberg.
Hence, we become more efficient and effective at doing life. We become adept at doing our own self, living out who we are and our endowments. Sun Tzu, the fame Chinese General, and Sage, in his book "The Art of War, put it this way,
You are an eagle. Refuse to perch with the chickens. You are no chicken. Your place is in the skies. You were created to soar. You were created to roar. You were created to win. You were created to reign. You were created to overcome. You were created to blossom. Don’t live any less. Don’t sell yourself less. Refuse to have anyone put on you a garment that is not yours. You are royalty.
"If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle."
Scriptures declare,
“He has made everything beautiful and appropriate in its time. He has also planted eternity [a sense of divine purpose] in the human heart [a mysterious longing which nothing under the sun can satisfy, except God]—yet man cannot find out (comprehend, grasp) what God has done (His overall plan) from the beginning to the end.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11, AMP)
Wow! Powerful indeed! Myles Munroe adds,
"The greatest discovery in life is self-discovery. Until you find yourself you will always be someone else. Become yourself." – Myles Munroe.Self-Discovery is a Journey, a Pilgrimage:
Self-discovery is not a journey that starts from outside a person. Rather, it is one that starts from within. It is the educing [drawing out] of purpose from within. Something from the deep recess of our being seeks fulfillment. It seeks more out of life. It comes from the questioning of the heart for WHY, for purpose, for attainment. There has got to be more than the lowly things. There has got to be more to life.
I love the way Eleanor Roosevelt says it. She says,
"Remember always that you not only have the right to be an individual, you have an obligation to be one."
Ken Blanchard adds,
"As a leader, the most important earthly relationship you can cultivate is your relationship with yourself."
Royal blood runs on the inside of you. There is a king on the inside of you. Give expression to the king in you. You are called to reign in life – this life!
© 2017 Akin Akinbodunse.
Link to Study Series:
Knowing Myself is the Key to Knowing Others (Part One)
Knowing Myself is the Key to Knowing Others (Part Three)
Links to Other Resources:
Self Discovery Journal (Shalu Sharma)
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