Originally posted on September 2, 2021 @ 7:00 am

The importance of self-discovery is often overlooked. When we know who we are, living a fulfilling life becomes easier.

Self-discovery is the process of knowing yourself. It is the act of knowing who you indeed are when no one is around. Self-discovery is the bedrock of self-awareness. The journey of self-discovery is the in-depth search of your characteristics and attributes without any external influence. It is important that when trying to discover one’s true self, the opinion of others shouldn’t form the basis of who you are. 

Self-Discovery is important because it helps us to identify our abilities. When we recognise our abilities, we find it easy to leverage them and use them to improve our lives. Many of us tend to compare ourselves with friends because we haven’t understood our capabilities. We want to talk like them, behave like them and live like them. We have forgotten that no two humans are the same.

Are you battling with depression, this article is perfect to help you through.

“The real difficulty is to overcome how you think about yourself.”

Maya Angelou

When the wright brother started working on their flying machine, there were trains, cars and ships. Flying wasn’t visible because people were comfortable with their options. These brothers saw something unique they could do, and they put their very best into it. I sometimes imagined the number of times they failed and people hauled insults at them. I’m sure they would have been discouraged at some point and wanted to give up.

 Today, we see the aeroplane as an essential means of transportation. If they never discovered their true worth, we may never have had an invention called an aeroplane. Most inventors always talk about the difficulty they faced while coming up with their creations. Many of them succeeded in their giant strides because they were self-aware. They knew what they could do, and they gave it their best.

The story of the lion we examined yesterday is an excellent pointer to the importance of self-discovery. The lion was limited because it was where it shouldn’t be. The lion knew there was more to itself, and that was why it followed the sound of the roar. At one point in our life, we all were like that lion. We know there’s much to our lives, and we must challenge the limitations around us. The lion would never find it easy to roam life alone, he would miss his family, and he would have to hunt for its food. Even though he will face many hurdles on the journey, he didn’t give up. The self-discovery process is divided into four stages

Process of Self-discovery

• Self-discovery
• Self-development
• Self-Mastery
• Self-Actualisation

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Self-Discovery

This involves understanding yourself, knowing your strength and weaknesses. At the stage of self-discovery, there is a need for deep soul searching. It takes sincerity and patience to Unveil who you indeed are.

Self-Development

‘No matter who you are, no matter what you did, no matter where you’ve come from, you can always change, become a better version of yourself.’

Madonna

This stage involves improving yourself. A lot of us avoid this stage. We believe everyone should love us irrespective of how we behave. Self-development is very important. The world is upgrading. People are changing; you need to develop yourself. Sharpen your skills to fit into the ever-evolving world. No one wants to work with someone who lives in the past.

Self-development also involves turning your weakness into strength. Weakness is not beneficial to any living being. In the jungle, predators seek the weakest among a herd. It doesn’t mean you have to hide your weakness, but it means you have to make a deliberate effort to improve yourself.

Self-Mastery

Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom. 

Mastering others is strength; mastering yourself is true power.

Lao Tzu

This stage is only for the resilient. Self-mastery is synonymous with self-control. It is being able to process what is happening around you and reacting based on your own will. You don’t make decisions under pressure or based on what people say or think. You don’t live life to please people; neither are you inconsiderate about how other people feel. Instead, you know your limits and don’t go beyond them.

Self-Actualisation

‘those who improve with age embrace the power of personal growth and personal achievement; Rather begin to replace youth with wisdom, innocence with understanding, and lack of purpose with self-actualisation’.

Bo Bennett

Self-actualisation is simply fulfilment. It is a stage where you have actually achieved all your dreams and fully utilised your potential. At this point, you don’t have regrets over what you should or shouldn’t do. We all yearn to get to this stage in our lives. We want to look back and be happy we reached our full potential. It is only possible when you start with the first step of self-discovery.

Some of us were brought up in an environment that has changed our self-image and self-worth. Some of us have abusive parents who never saw anything good in us. They always thought we were not worth having the good things in life. Maybe you’re in an abusive relationship that has made you feel insecure, and you keep enduring the pain.

Importance of Self-discovery

It is important we discover our inert abilities, these abilities, gifts, and talents are what separate us from each other.

• It helps to understand your weakness and how to improve
• It enables you to understand your strengths and how to leverage them for better self-confidence.
• It helps to evaluate your relationships
• you find it easier to make peace with your past
• It helps to develop an action plan for yourself
• It makes it easier to discover your purpose
• Allows you to stand for yourself
• It will enable you to see your unique abilities and stop comparing yourself with others.
• Helps to set attainable goals

Final note

You deserve the good things in life! Today, I want you to know that you are your first cheerleader. Every other person is secondary. You are as important as you think you are. I want you to brace up and give yourself positive affirmations today. The lion never wasted time before moving ahead on a journey to discover its true worth. It left everything and moved ahead with great expectations and willingness to learn. You are an iceberg; what is inside you is what makes you unique. You are as strong as you think you are. 

This journey of self-discovery will change your life.

 IT IS TIME TO BREAK FREE. 

Have an identity! 

Leave life! 

Click here to read Day One of the Challenge.

Today’s Task: Self-discovery challenge

Write out what you 10 things you think about who you are.