Aristotle once said that knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.
We live in a world where the response to “Who are you?” is often limited to your name, obligations, gender, or physical attributes. Most times, people answer this question through the lens of how they hope the world will see them.
Some people answer the question “Who are you?” with “What do you do for a living?” Their identity becomes intertwined with the roles they play in people’s lives.
I sent out a questionnaire recently, asking people the existential question: who are you, and if they have been asked this question before? Of all the responses I got, one person stood out. I will call her Simi, for the purpose of this discussion. Simi said the only time she has had to confront that question was during a job interview: “Tell me about yourself, who are you?” She went on to list her achievements and fears.
Some people believe there is no one perfect answer to the question, and any answer you give will lead to a plethora of questions. Perfection is never the goal, but we can all agree that there is more to you than your physical attributes. Your existence cannot be reduced to your name, physical features, or the roles you play.
Who you are is not a question that you can shy away from; it is a question that you will get asked for as long as you have life in you. You will get asked during dates, college essays, immigration, employment, and religious purposes. Your teachers will ask you at one point or another. During networking events, you will get this question. A therapist will ask, and your account officer will ask you during loan applications.
In the words of Lao Tzu, “Knowing others is intelligence, but knowing yourself is true wisdom.”
“Who are you?” is a question that invites you to explore the depths of your identity through self-reflection and introspection.
You can achieve this depth by:
Self-Reflection – You need to allow yourself the opportunity to reflect and figure out your values, beliefs, hobbies, goals, lifestyle, skills, accomplishments, faith, motivation, passion, emotions, experiences, habits, personality traits, and the things that make you tick.
Honesty – Self-reflection requires honesty. You will find out who you are when you allow yourself to reflect, but you will only reap the benefits of self-reflection when you are honest with yourself.
Vulnerability – Vulnerability is not a gift you give to others. You can be vulnerable with yourself, and a key part of honesty is vulnerability.
Ultimately, as humans, we are not uni-dimensional. We are an accumulation of the different facets of our lives woven into the body that houses our spirit and accommodates our bones and blood. Humans are also not monoliths; we are subject to change, and the answer to “who are you” can be different at different stages of your life. However, it is a question that requires honest introspection and self-awareness.
