Friday, June 21, 2019

SLICE OF LIFE - Know Yourself




“Never explain yourself to anyone. Because the person who likes you does not need one, and the person who dislikes you won’t believe you.”

   This quotation by an unknown author relates specifically to the need for you to know yourself, to know who you are, and to avoid the temptation of measuring yourself with other people’s yardsticks.

The statement is a statement of fact, which does not need any explanation. You do not need to prove anything to any one but yourself. Those people who know and like you, will already have sought out the needed information about you, and will have formed a favorable opinion; and a level of trust. On the other hand, for those who, for whatever reason, have an unfavorable opinion, no amount of explanation will be necessarily persuasive; they will always find cause to find fault.

The ancient Greek philosopher Socrates in his teachings often declared:
7
“To know thyself is the beginning of wisdom.”

This statement speaks loudly and accurately to the fundamental need to know yourself in order to achieve happiness and peace of mind. Without a true knowledge of yourself, it will impossible to develop a sense of identity, to understand the qualities that define you, and to successfully interact with others. With self-knowledge, there will develop a deeper understanding and a genuine discovery of your inner needs and an honest and meaningful relationship with yourself. These are the hallmarks of a confident personality. Leon Brown, an African-American baseball player and an accomplished author, placed this in the right context when he advised:

“First know yourself; then you will begin to understand why things are as they are, and why life is as it is.”

<        >

No comments:

Post a Comment