by: Iain Legg
Part of being an empowered person is having intimate knowledge and awareness of yourself as an individual, including your strengths, talents, weaknesses, capabilities and limitations.
How well do you know yourself? You’d be surprised how many people don’t know themselves at all! If you’ve spent the majority of your time focusing on the people around you, you may not have a clear self-image, which can lead to feelings of inner disconnection and disempowerment.
On the other hand, when you know yourself well you are empowered in that knowledge. You feel confident, self-assured, centered and strong, which enables you to live purposely and make more beneficial decisions.
Getting to know yourself is easy to do with a consistent investment of time and focus. Basically, you’d start just like you would if you wanted to get to know another person better – you’d spend quality time with them! By spending frequent quality time with yourself, you’ll gain a clearer idea of who you are.
Start by considering your interests and passions. Grab a sheet of paper and jot down some of the things you enjoy doing now, or have wanted to explore in the past. If you’re not sure, think about the things you did when you were younger. Have you always had an interest in creative activities like art and photography? Did you belong to any clubs in school? Have you always wanted to take foreign language classes or travel to exotic places?
Eventually you’ll want to devote time to exploring these activities because they’ll help you to grow more fully into yourself as a person. However, for now simply explore your dreams, passions and interests on paper.
It’s also a good idea to get an idea of your personal values using this same process. What is most important to you? Honesty, love, compassion, service to others, family connections, making a positive difference in the world? Jot down some ideas about the things that really matter to you. Through these values you’ll get a clearer idea of the type of person you are.
Eventually you’ll want to be sure that the majority of your daily activities are in line with these values. For example, does your job support your value of honesty, or are you required to “fib” or act in ways that are contrary to your values? This is important because you will never feel truly empowered until you are living in alignment with your core values!
Another great way to get to know yourself better is through journaling. When you journal, you are connecting with a deeper part of yourself: your authentic self! Start by writing down some of your inner thoughts and insights about yourself. If you’re not sure exactly what to write, try asking questions like these:
• Who am I?
• Why am I here?
• What is my life purpose?
• What am I here to contribute to the world?
• What do others think of me?
• Is that who I really am?
Don’t worry about getting the answers right – the important thing is to explore your personality and get a clearer idea of who you are. Open your mind and let the answers spill out onto the page.
Getting to know yourself is a process that will continue throughout the rest of your life, but the more connected you become with your inner self, the more confident, self-assured – and empowered - you’re going to feel.
