Who Are You?

Finding One’s Central Understanding of Self simply means discovering who you really are or finding yourself. Other terms you may see or recognize around this topic is Self-Concordance Theory or Individuation. Sometimes who you really are gets lost in translation of the day to day issues and goings on of your life. Or you may think that self-discovery is a selfish goal when you have grown up responsibilities like family, career and more. Sometimes, you may care about what others think about you. However, to be the best person you can be to your spouse, mate, children, friends or co-workers you must know who you are, what is your purpose and what can you offer. Focusing on you is not a sin or a selfish process, but a personal journey.

You wonder where do you begin in this journey called self-discovery. Well, connecting to your inner or true self can begin with these questions.
• Who are you really?
• What do you want or need to change?
• Why do you want or need to change these things in your life?
• Where will change begin?
• When will change begin to happen?
• How do you begin to make changes in your life?

Reflective Questions

Who are you really? This question is reflective. You can answer by saying, “My name is Shelia Johnson.” Well, your first and last name don’t give a good clue to who you are. You are a complex human being. Your response to the question is based not only on your present but also on your past. It may have been a happy past or perhaps a painful past. What happened physically, emotionally and spiritually in your past helped to shape your present. It can also shape your future, but that depends on how you let the past shape your future. Your past helped to determine how you respond to situations, people or events. Exploring the past is a very important part of the journey.

Afterward, think about your present life. Who are you right now? Are you a wife, mother, sister, friend, successful career woman, etc.? Are you a husband, father, brother, successful professional, etc.? How do the responsibilities of these titles affect your life? Man, or woman, it can be a heavy load or a wonderful part of your life. Write down your likes, dislikes or so-so lists. Think about what can you change that will lead to a clearer discovery of yourself.