Getting to Know You — How to Discover Your True Self

Who Am I?

It’s a question many of us have asked ourselves at one time or another. The challenges of living in our always-on distraction-filled world only makes the answer harder to nail down. I’ve met a lot of people in their 40s and beyond who are still pondering the question, “Who Am I?”

Why is This So Common?

Feeling a sense of disconnect with who we are can get its start in a variety of places. The earliest stages often begin in childhood. Being raised in an unsupportive environment, or one that was heavily over-structured, can inhibit a strong sense of self from developing. Without the encouragement and freedom to explore interests, ideas, and feelings, a person can feel a sense of confusion and uncertainty about what really brings them joy or what they really want out of life. Sometimes events happen in the teen years or adulthood that can stunt the investigation of who we are, causing us to trade exploration for the relative safety of conformity. The downside: Conforming to the expectations of others can lead to losing touch with the true self.

“To thine own self be true.” ~ William Shakespeare

So, What’s the Problem?

The danger of not knowing oneself opens us to be influenced by the desires and whims of others who don’t…