“Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom” Aristotle
Aristotle was right when he said the above quote as, if you do not know who you are, what you like, what your desires are, how can you ever be happy? So today, we are going to explore getting to know you and how that can lead to your happiness.
The first thing that keeps many people from seeing themselves in the way that they should is the focus that they put on their flaws. No one, absolutely no one in the world is perfect. Focusing on the negative, keeps you from seeing the positive.
To know yourself correctly, listen to the positive and negative thoughts that go through your brain about yourself. Make a list of the things that you don’t like and would like to change. Then find a way to feed your inner critic with positive thinking. If all you hear is negative, it will be very hard for you to get to know the inner you as it may be bombarded with too much to let the good come through.
Another way to get to know yourself as with the exercise above, is to use that list to see how you could become a better person. Are there things that you do that you would like to change? Take everything one step at a time and try to change for the positive.
Then make another list to get to know YOU: write down your likes and dislikes; put down hobbies you may want to try or things you already enjoy doing; what do you like to eat? what do you not like to eat?, what kind of music do you enjoy? Where would you like to travel? What interests you? What qualities do you like in people who are your friends? By asking these things you begin to answer questions that you may not have the answer to about yourself.
Some people don’t realize the effect that their past may have on their ability to know themselves at the point they are now. Things to think of are what kind of support did you have as a child, who helped to mold you into who you are, are your parents still married or divorced, loving or abusive, have you lost someone special, or any instances in childhood that make a person feel happy or sad, confident or insecure, loved or unloved, is another way to look into who you are. See how these things effect how you deal with yourself and other people. Begin to recognize things that may help or trigger you and create a way to better yourself by knowing these things and using them to your advantage!
Then establish who you are. Love yourself inside and out regardless of things you may not like or want to change. Believe in who you are regardless of what society or others tell you.
You are your own unique, beautiful individual. All of us have the ability to restart as many times as we see fit. Do not focus on the negative and always listen to what your heart tells you, as it will lead you to a path of happiness! Remember, You have more to offer than you may know, believe in yourself!
"Happiness depends upon ourselves" Aristotle
Have a Happy and Healthy Day, Cheers :)
