Journey to Self Discovery

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:

-            Who am i? i.e. ask yourself, what are your strengths and weaknesses as a person?  
www.mesitesconsultingltd.wordpress,comWhat oppurtunity or threat exist in your environment?

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.                                                   

-           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.

-          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.

-          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.

-          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.

-          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.

-          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:

-          Find your values; the things that matter most to you on the deepest level. Help you understand why your values are important.

-          Help you understand your strengths. What natural abilities you possess and which ones to cultivate and develop.

-          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).

-          Help know your tendencies and habits, either good or bad.

-          Know your limits; you can’t be the best at everything.

-          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)