One of the most important adventures of your life is discovering who you truly are, the journey of self discovery. As the great philosopher, Aristotle worded it, “Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.” In most cases, knowing who you are motivated you to identify your true purpose and know what you really want to get out of life.

Well, isn’t that what we’re supposed to do in the first place—to fulfill our true purpose? It’d be nice to have a book that contains everything we need to know about ourselves and more—which is how experts describe the Akashic records—right? But that’s not exactly the case.

In our busy lives, it’s quite a challenge to understand ourselves, especially with what each of us faces on a daily basis. From infancy to adulthood, many of the things we do are often dictated or influenced by someone—or something—in our lives. Rarely is our decision to act even ours. If that isn’t enough, we’re bombarded with media that somehow “tells” us that such is the way to enjoy and live a full life.

So, if you’re ready to take on the journey of self discovery, here’s what you can do to begin.

What Does It Mean To Discover Oneself

Self-discovery doesn’t exactly mean self-indulgence. As a matter of fact, discovering yourself must never be an act of selfishness. Instead, self-discovery is the process of understanding one’s value, not only for yourself but also for the world and people around you.

Self-discovery involves taking down practices, beliefs, and even relationships which don’t reflect who you are. But, beyond removing yourself, self-discovery is an act of building a life that helps you fulfill your own destiny: a life full of meaning and purpose, and one that’s entirely yours.

Overall, to become self-aware means you’re free. Liberated from the opinions of others, and even more so, free from your very own criticisms.

Visualize Your Future Self

The first step to discover yourself is to see what your ideal self looks like. Whether you’ve lived a comfortable life or not, chances are, you’re still looking for something more. Maybe it’s doing charity work or finding a job that lets you spend more time with your family.

Whatever it is, envision yourself doing the things that speak to you. Not having a clear idea of what you hope to become will only keep you doing the things others have influenced you to do.

Find Your Passion

Passion enriches our lives and gives them more meaning. However, not everyone has figured out what their passions are yet. If this is you, you can start by answering these questions:

• Is there something you love doing?
• Where do you spend your free time on a day-to-day basis?
• What excites you and brings joy to your life?

In your journey of self discovery, exploring your passion can help you see what activities will bring more meaning to your life. In some cases, pursuing your passion could also be a way for you to make a living.

Explore New Things

If you’re still having trouble finding your passion, why not discover a new one instead? Trying out new things is a great way to identify what you love to do and what you don’t. It goes both ways. It might seem terrifying at first, but you’ll never know how and what it feels like until you try.

Trying new things does not necessarily mean going out of your way to experience extreme activities. But, if that’s what you’re into, then, by all means, go on. If that’s not your cup of tea, exploring new things could also be as simple as reading self-help books instead of novels or enjoying homecooked meals alone instead of eating out with friends all the time.

Evaluate Your Skills and Talents

Apart from your passion, some of the things that make you truly unique are your talents and skills. In your journey of self discovery, consider writing a list of your skills and how you can use them. Doing so can connect the gap between what you want to do and what you can do.

As you use and practice your skills, you open more doors to fulfill your life’s purpose, while, at the same time, sharpening your capabilities as well.

Learn New Things

There’s no better way to discover yourself than in learning new things. After all, learning is a lifelong process.

Dedicate time to study something you’ve always wanted to learn about. There are millions of resources out there to help you on this journey. From traditional books to online courses, your options are unlimited. In fact, there are apps nowadays that help you learn a new language, hone your skills in coding, and help solve math problems.

Whatever medium or skill you choose, expanding your knowledge can benefit your overall well-being and open more opportunities for you in the future.

Identify Your Values

Manners maketh a man and a woman. This means your very nature and attitude toward life are directly related to the values you believe in and practice.

Your values reflect your sense of right and wrong. In discovering yourself, make sure to identify your personal values. Doing so can help you understand why you react a certain way to different situations.

Be Introspective

With the hustle and bustle of everyday life, we’ve been accustomed to living routine lives. In fact, life has been so fast-paced that we rarely have time to think about our bearings.

Give yourself a few minutes of introspection just before the day ends. Allow yourself to discover how you’ve grown, where you’re going, and what else you can do to keep moving forward. Introspection is a great tool to see how your life is going and if you’re on the course you wanted to take.

Keep A Journal

One way to help you practice self-reflection is by journaling. Keeping a journal allows you to be in touch with your emotions. It’s an avenue for you to express yourself, ask questions, and answer them, and it’s also a great way to help clear your mind.

If you feel like writing isn’t your strongest suit, that’s perfectly fine. Nobody else will read what you write in your journal, so be as open and expressive as you can. It doesn’t matter if you write run-on sentences. What matters is you’re able to record your triumphs, setbacks, and feelings.

Takeaway

Discovering yourself is a rewarding experience. It gives you the freedom to live on your own terms without having to worry about what others may say. But, as with all good things, the journey of self discovery takes time and effort on your part.

You must be willing to explore unchartered territories to truly find your purpose. Sometimes, sacrifices have to be made to catapult you to success. Nevertheless, always remember that the most important part of your journey is to enjoy every bit of it.