Know Yourself!
Who am I?
To find the answer to this question, we first need to step out of the standard way of thinking that divides things into black and white, and be prepared to accept that black and white can exist simultaneously alongside a multitude of shades of gray…
The apparent contradiction that must be accepted is the realization that you are at the same time unique and unrepeatable…
”I am what no one has yet been among all who have ever existed”
(Ion Minulescu)
…and yet interconnected within the miraculous fabric of what we call Humanity;
“I am soul within the soul of my people”
(George Cosbuc)
…just as different cells fulfilling different functions together form a functioning organism.
The answer to the question “who am I?” is, in this context, extremely important for finding your place and fulfillment in the course of life. The aspect of individuality, discovering your own talents and aptitudes, defines you as a person. Knowing who you are and what “gifts” you came into the world with helps you both in choosing a suitable career and in building harmonious relationships with those around you. It gives you a certain sense of security and reduces day-to-day anxiety.
The process of self-definition requires self-analysis and time spent in the company of your own person; a life lived consciously, with ongoing analysis of the reactions, decisions, and generative thoughts behind them. Alternatively, you can take a shortcut and seek the qualified help of a psychologist, who has simple and effective techniques to assist you. A psychologist will also counsel you through the complicated process of self-acceptance, which follows the process of self-knowledge. It is interesting to observe how we, as humans, strive more to be someone else instead of focusing on becoming the best possible version of our own being. We copy models that do not suit us, which leads to frustrations and imbalances. To give a simple example:
If an elephant insists on imitating a monkey, it will end up disappointed by its inability to climb trees… Both the elephant and the monkey have their place and purpose in the functioning of the universe… just as you have yours.
No one can exist alone; we are all interconnected in a society that functions on the basis of human relationships.
In each of our lives, there are two major decisions that will influence all the others; one is about career and the other about marriage or partnership.
Self-knowledge is extremely important in the decision-making process. If you end up working in a field that does not match your abilities, sooner or later you will develop frustrations that over time will lead to dysfunctional states or even depression.
An introverted person with communication difficulties, who by the nature of their job is constantly exposed to contact with people, will end the day with fatigue and frustration. Someone who needs change but does repetitive and boring work will not be happy either… both are working against their own nature… The psychological state gradually deteriorates, the zest for life disappears, and frustration settles in.
In family life, the same thing happens; an introvert with an extroverted and communicative partner: if each of them knows themselves, they can resolve the difference through a compromise in which one gets time for communication and the other for reflection. The key, in this case too, is self-knowledge.
In our century, life unfolds at an extremely rapid pace and the demands of adaptability grow exponentially. We rarely find the time needed for conscious self-analysis, which is why the help offered by psychologists in the form of self-assessment tests is very welcome.
But do not forget that these tests are not meant to limit you, nor to give you excuses for stagnation, but to help you develop in accordance with the abilities you possess and to become the most beautiful version of what you are.
