Know Yourself

Perhaps, one of the most important and life changing lessons I have learnt in my stay on earth is that of 'self discovery'.

I realized that if it is true that Knowledge is power, then the foundation or the key to the acquisition of knowledge is self-discovery.

As a child I once heard one of my Father's friends say that 'the best thing that can ever happen to anyone is for them to discover themselves at a very early age.' True! Knowing oneself means coming into a place of awareness. This happens at different levels.

The most level is what in ancient Greek is referred to as *'Epigynosko' - A kind of knowledge or a state of being that depicts full/participatory awareness. At this level, there is no shade of uncertainty. You know who you truly are. For example, a child born into royalty may not really know his true status and thus may display contrary behavioral patterns.

However, the moment it dawns on him that he is royalty, his thinking changes. The change in his thought process will influence is behavioral pattern.

Self-discovery is a process. Moreover, like every natural process, such as growth or growing up, self-discovery takes time, comes with its own twists & turns and requires a conscious effort at recording ones behavioral patterns (including responses to challenges). I have reached a conclusion. One, which I heard is also shared by Oprah Winfery and that is ‘…People don’t change, they only grow into who they really are.’

Thanks for reading through.
Strength and Honour,
Debo.

*Epigynosko is only one of the three kinds of Knowledge