Journey to Self Discovery
Self discovery is the process of
learning more about yourself and who you are. It’s about having time to
consider and contempla
te your strengths and weaknesses. The journey to self
discovery however is not always an easy road. It includes fear, confusion,
doubt, misunderstanding and even your surroundings (to people in your life). It
requires making some tough decisions and sticking to them. But the effect of
self discovery includes happiness, clarity, fulfillment and other positive
feelings.
Self discovery is a powerful tool for
cultivating a fulfilling and meaningful life. When you know yourself, as in
really know yourself, you can live to your values and passions, make a positive
contribution to the world and simply have more fun. It also influences our
connection to others. “When we get to know ourselves, we are more open and
loving towards others, because we see their humanity and gifts that they
bring.” In other words, once you know your priorities and perspectives, you can
make deliberate decisions based on those things, intentionally creating a more
connected life that is true to you.
To embark on the journey of self discovery,
there are some questions we need to ask ourselves. These questions will help
shape our lives and the lives we lead, help cultivate our self awareness and
lead a life that’s meaningful to us. These questions are as follows:
This
question helps reveal our essence as a being. It also highlights our possibilities
and reminds us that we are more than our bodies.
- What do I need right now more than
anything else?
Too
often we mistake what we want for what we need. We tend to neglect what we most
need to be happy and healthy. It’s always good to respond to ones need, doing so;
it helps us not only to address our short term needs but also, by extension,
our long term happiness.
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What am
I resisting or attaching to?
For
some people, the fears of not having something turn out the way we want shows
up as resistance or attachment and prevent growth. However, when you identify
what you are resisting or attaching to, you can refocus on cultivating
acceptance and expansion. When we are not resisting or attaching, we are free
to experience life fully.
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What are my gifts/talents and how can I share them with
the world?
We
all have a gift or two, we just need to discover it and share with the world,
having a great sense of humor, acting with kindness and even volunteering your
time are all gifts.
-
How can I celebrate each day or the moments of my life?
Sometimes we tend to forget
that every moment is ripe with gratitude and gifts. Take notice of the good stuffs
coming in. pause to give thanks and mark the moments that uplifts us all.
-
What is my life purpose?
We
should all know that we are not just created to be on earth, we are here to
make an impact, discover yourself and help heal the world. Be useful and you
will be happy. We all have a purpose, so, dig in and reveal it.
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What meaning can I draw from this experience?
Every
experience has a purpose and a potential lesson. Of course, the lesson may be tough
to swallow, but doing so “prompts awareness, curiosity, compassion,
resilience”. In other words, focusing on the lesson helps us keep going in
tough times.
-
What feeling do I
most want to have in my life? What do I want to be doing more of in my life?
What do I want to be doing less of in my life?
These three questions help us explore what we really want
and whether what we are currently doing actually reflects that. When we are
creating a fulfilling life, it’s important to cut out the things that weigh us
down and add the things that lift us up.
The questions
we ask influence the quality of our lives. Ask good questions, good things come
into your life (be positive). Questions fire up our curiosity and they also illuminate
the depth of our soul and psyche. This kind of reflection leads to growth,
compassion, contribution and appreciation. Stop being your own worst enemy!
Stop lying to yourself about your emotions and feelings and start accepting
them and allowing yourself to feel whatever it is you feel. When you discover
who you are, you will be free. There comes a freedom with accepting your
feelings and emotions.
The moment a
person truly starts down the path of self discovery, they will never turn back.
Many may ask the question “what is self discovery?” “What do you mean you don’t
know who you are?” Trust me, knowing who you truly are means more than just
knowing your name, don’t be ignorant about your true self. Through the journey,
you might find yourself cutting some people out of your life. The journey might
also see you completely change the course of your life and start to follow your
true passion and purpose. Set intentions and no longer have expectations from
others. Might be hard but just don’t give up. The journey is worth taking.
Mistakes: just because we have lost our way doesn’t mean
that we are lost forever. In the end, it’s not the failures that define us so
much as how we respond. Learn to recognize mistakes and correct them.
Like Aristotle said, “knowing yourself is the beginning
of all wisdom”. This means that you need to know who you are, and then
everything becomes open to you. Without self discovery, you don’t know what
direction life is taking you. You also don’t know what you want to do in life
and will not be able to make important decisions.
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It’s a very important
aspect of everybody’s life. Self discovery ranges from things that people don’t
see as important, like what you want to study in school(what you want to
become),to the big things such as jobs or relationships.
-
It’s as important as breathing,
without it, you just skate by in life.
-
It is the most
important aspect of adolescence. As teens become more self aware, they start
trying to figure out who they are, making choices that will impact their lives
forever.
People are
struggling with finding their true identity because of this ever changing world
in which we live. We’ve all heard the saying “people change” well, people are
changing to fit into a group abandoning their true identity. Sometimes we think
that if we change, then people will like us a whole lot better. This happens constantly.
Do they like you better after you’ve changed? Most likely, No. Personally,
would I really care if people like me if I change to fit in? No, I have an idea
of who I am and what I want to do with life. Why would I change to fit in? This
is a question to ask ones self and to believe that we are unique. That’s what
people are forgetting. Everybody is unique in one way or the other. Most
individuals take to heart what people say. Sometimes this can be good or bad.
When we take what people say negatively, this affects who we are as a person,
making us feel like we are left out. This can make people change because they
don’t like what they hear. Most of the time, we focus on asking ourselves “what
if they don’t like me?” and “what if they think I’m not good enough?” Self
discovery is what you as a unique human being should pour your energy into
rather than what people think you should be doing.
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How can you find your
true identity? This is simple. Ask yourself “who am i?” Just be yourself. If
people don’t like you for whom you are, then what is the point of them being
your friend? Don’t please people, please yourself.
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Journey to self
discovery should begin immediately after high school. This is when you will
find out more about yourself than any other point in your life.
Have a
problem with discovering your true self? That’s no problem.at mesites
consulting limited, we will help you:
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Find your values; the
things that matter most to you on the deepest level. Help you understand why
your values are important.
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Help you understand
your strengths. What natural abilities you possess and which ones to cultivate
and develop.
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Keep your passions in
check by knowing them and the activities and pursuits that make you feel really
alive. Without your passions, you really can’t build your life (we can help
build your passions and your life).
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Help know your
tendencies and habits, either good or bad.
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Know your limits; you
can’t be the best at everything.
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Help establish your
direction, where you want to go/be in life. Reach your destination (this
journey counts).
Don’t forget, when you eventually know your
true identity, the most important thing to remember is that you should always
be yourself. Once you find out who you are, endless possibilities will unfold
before your eyes.
ADESOLA
ADEBIMPE ALADE (June 2015)
