Know Thyself

“Be yourself—not your idea of what you think somebody else’s idea of yourself should be.” (Thoreau)

This quote, as well as the concept behind it, is somewhat convoluted.

Be yourself. This seems simple enough. Who else would I be? Well…in order to be myself, I have to first know who I am.

Who am I?? Umm…this is a bit more complicated. My self-identity is influenced by my environment, my relationships, and my experiences. Like a bat who navigates by echolocation, I project images and ideas based on how I would like to be perceived by the world. Then, I define my place in this world by the feedback I receive. My concept of self is based on my perception of other people’s ideas of me! Unfortunately, this is a convoluted way to figure out who I am and what I am about.

How would I define myself? Is it possible to define ourselves without being influenced by the perceptions of others? Most of our values and standards are shaped by our environment. Can we define ourselves without mentioning transitory things like a job title, relationships, physical attributes, or interests?

As you can see, in order to be yourself, you have to know yourself. Discovering who you are and what you were originally created to be—takes a lot of effort. It’s like restoring an antique desk that was originally built by a master carpenter. Previous owners might have painted it, varnished it, stained it, put stickers on it, or carved initials into the wood. The wood might be warped due to environmental exposure. In order to restore this desk to its original glory, you may have to patiently remove accumulated dirt and grime, methodically strip away layers of paint, repair damage, and replace missing hardware. In order to be yourself, your true self—you have to strip away layers of paint that have been applied by public perceptions, societal expectations, and cultural values. Self-knowledge is a stepping stone to enlightenment…for understanding the creation sheds light on the Creator.

“The first step toward finding God, Who is Truth, is to discover the truth about myself.” (Thomas Merton)