Who are you? Right here, right now, if I ask you this question, what will you say? I am not going to give you time to think about it, but I do expect an articulate answer, one that will cover the different aspects that make you, you. Can you answer this?
I realized some time ago that I wouldn’t have been able to answer this question expressively on the spot, not like I would a book I just read or a movie I just saw. I think it should be that easy because I should be able to describe myself that well; I mean, it’s me. I could not do this because I had never actually taken time to do some introspection to get to know myself completely to be able to give a detailed and explanatory summary of who I was.
Can you say with all certainty that you’re any better? Do you know accurately who you have been or who you currently are? And can you predict who you are going to be? Do you know what makes you, you? You are so much more than just flesh and bones. You are the sum of all your thoughts and dreams, your gifts, your weaknesses and strengths, your fears, your inner beauty and hidden scars, all your memories and experiences, past hurts and joys, and so much more.
Some people have a pretty good idea of who they are; they understand their various likes and dislikes, so they know who and what to avoid or bring into their lives. They know their temperament, so they know why they act the way they do and can predict their reaction to any event that may present itself. They know their strengths and their weaknesses. They know their passions and hidden desires, and they even know their faults and parts of them they are not so proud of.
Isn’t it strange that we spend so much time trying to understand other people, how their mind works, who they really are and why they act the way they do but spend little or no time trying to know ourselves? This is a challenge for you to take a step back from your busy schedule and do some thinking. Don’t you think of all the people who know you in this world that you should be able to say you know yourself the best? Don’t you think that you should know yourself better so as to help other people know you? That would certainly help you have healthy relationships with the people you have around you.
Here are a few questions I have for you that you can use for self-examination. You’re on a date with yourself right now; let you get to know yourself.
- What 5 words would you use to describe yourself?
- What are your likes and dislikes?
- What are you good at and enjoy doing?
- What can make you smile on a really bad day?
- What are your dreams? If this was your last day on earth, what do you wish you had achieved?
- If you could make 3 wishes, what would they be?
- What are the little things that bring you joy?
- What do you want to be remembered for?
- What are your top 5 most important principles? What do you stand for?
- What is your greatest fear?
- What are the top 5 things you cannot live without?
- What can hurt you? Are you hurting right now? Why did what happen hurt you, and what will you do to try to heal?
- What are you holding on to that’s not letting you move forward?
- What messes with your mental health? How’s your mental health right now? Are you in a good place?
- What are your faults, and how do you plan to work on them?
- What is your heart desire?
- Do you love yourself? Be honest; do you genuinely love every single part of you, all your beautiful and messy pieces?
- What is important to you in life?
- Love or money?
- What worries you most about your future?
Well, that’s it for now. Do you feel like you got to know yourself a bit more? These are just some questions to ask, but do not stop there; dig deeper. There are definitely many more layers of yourself to peel back and reveal, with each layer coming with its own surprises, lessons, and so much more. Enjoy the discovery. Take care, till we meet again.
Omoyemen Aisuodionoe-Shadrach
