The ‘Self’ is a very powerful force. It is essentially what makes you ‘You’; and harnessing that power makes you unstoppable. Do you know yourself? I mean, do you really know your true ‘self’? Most of us think we do. If someone asked you to describe yourself you would be able to tell them about your likes, dislikes, and preferences as well as your views and opinions. But what about the actual ‘self’ that is at the core of that self-description?
Self-knowledge
The power of ‘self’ begins with the knowledge of ‘self’. In one of my earlier posts, “Who Do You Think You Are? (pt. 1)”, I delved into beginning the journey of self-knowledge and really digging deep to figure out why you think and believe as you do. Knowledge of Self is the foundation of mastering the rest of yourself. When you truly know yourself it becomes easier to love yourself and create healthy boundaries in order to protect yourself.
When our world was first turned upside down by COVID-19, and life as we knew it no longer existed, we were forced to spend a lot of time with ourselves. For some of us that was no big deal, but for others it was absolutely terrifying. Before the pandemic pressed the global pause button, it was easy to run from ourselves because we were distracted by the hustle and bustle of life.
But when all of that came to a screeching halt, people were forced to be with themselves; that meant they had to face all of those things they’ve been running from. Some people chose to face it head-on, while others still continue to run from themselves (a lot of people are self-medicating to avoid dealing with facing themselves, and sadly some have committed suicide – for various reasons, some of which were exacerbated by the effects of the pandemic). Part of self-knowledge is self-acceptance.
When you decide to begin getting to know your true, authentic ‘self’, you have to learn to accept those parts of yourself that you don’t like. Self-acceptance means that you recognize the good, the bad, and the ugly. Yes, many people have a problem accepting that they have good qualities about themselves because somewhere along the line someone told them otherwise.
Once you’re okay with those things you don’t like about yourself, you can then begin the process of learning why you like/dislike the things that you do, why you believe what you believe, and why you think the way you do. When you really start digging, you will discover that a lot of it has to do with what you were taught by others growing up, and those in a position of authority who told you that was what you were supposed to think, believe, like or dislike.
When you discover the presence of outside influences, you then have to ask yourself if those outside influences are inline with what you truly believe. How do you know what you truly believe if you don’t really know yourself yet? If you don’t really know yourself yet, how can you truly love yourself unconditionally?
“What the world needs now is love sweet love
– “What the World Needs Now Is Love”, Jackie DeShannon, 1965
It’s the only thing that there’s just too little of
What the world needs now is love sweet love
No not just for some but for everyone”
Knowing yourself is loving yourself. When you know who you are and fully accept yourself as you are, it becomes harder for others to make you feel bad about yourself. Self-knowledge (and acceptance) is the foundation of self-love. When you have love and compassion for yourself, it becomes easier to have love and compassion for others; recognizing that they too are imperfect individuals just trying to find their way in life like everyone else in this world. And one thing the world is desperately in need of is LOVE!
Let’s get lifted!
V.
Comment below if you have started on your own journey of self-discovery. And if this post resonated with you, please like and share!
The Lift Line ~ 3Vimensional 