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WHO ARE YOU?
The phrase "know thyself" is attributed to several people, including Socrates, Aristotle, Lao Tzu, and each one of us when we’re not sure why we do what we do.
Socrates believed that philosophy – the love of wisdom – was the most important pursuit above all else. Aristotle taught that knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom and Lao Tzu stated that knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom, mastering others is strength, mastering yourself is true power.
Why so much interest in knowing yourself? Because according to Socrates, an examined life is worth living. And in his early twenties, Benjamin Franklin made this statement, “The key to self-improvement was daily self-examination.”
In his book, "The Pursuit of Happiness", Jeffrey Rosen states that John Quincy Adams viewed self-empowerment through self-examination as a lifelong quest and Marcus Tullius Cicero, philosopher and greatest forensic orator Rome ever produced, claimed the benefit of self-examination as “tranquility of the mind.”
How much life are we able to handle and enjoy when we know why we think and feel as we do. It reminds me of the adage, "if you don’t stand for something, you will fall for anything."
Knowing who we are includes understanding our ‘shadow’, the judge, critic, doubter and of course our contradictions. Not denying or criticizing the part of us that makes us contentious but recognizing when and why that part of us developed, could be useful in self-examination. Embracing all of who we are and transforming it into a whole-life experience is the ultimate assimilation. A good example is transforming fears into motivation.
One way to understand ourselves better is through personality assessments. These self-examination tools are used to better understand our thoughts and feelings and what motivates our behavior. Whether for work or our personal life, knowing who we are can guide us to “tranquility of mind” and perhaps less stress in trying to control others.
Here are a few self-examination tools you may already know:
The Kolbe Index, also known as the Kolbe Test or Instincts Test, is a scientifically validated assessment that measures how someone gets things done when they're free to be themselves. Kolbe measures your instinctive way of doing things and the result is called your MO (method of operation)
The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is a self-report personality test that categorizes people into 16 personality types. The test is based on psychologist Carl Jung's theory of psychological types.
The DISC assessment helps people understand themselves and others, used in the workplace to improve behavior. The acronym DISC stands for four main personality styles: dominance (D), influence (I), steadiness (S), and conscientiousness (C). The assessment measures tendencies and preferences, patterns of behavior, in various situations.
The Enneagram helps people identify their core motivations, desires, and fears, and match them with one of nine personality types in the Enneagram model. The Enneagram is a typology system based on ancient spiritual traditions used in counseling, business, and spiritual settings. It helps people understand their unconscious patterns, core beliefs, and motivations. It can also provide insights into emotions, values, worldview, perspective, and behaviors. Finding your type is helpful for self-exploration and development, as it can explain why people do things rather than just what they do.
Twenty-five years ago, I was introduced to the Enneagram by my mentor Linda Frazee. It has been a transformative journey in assisting me to understand, not only myself better, but to recognize other’s motivations as well. I continue to be a student of the Enneagram and invite you to join me in an exploration of the Enneagram with Linda Frazee in a private setting in my home on November 2nd from 9 to 3.
Our space is limited and will book on a first-come basis. Must call or email to reserve your attendance. Consider enjoying a one-day interactive workshop and exploring who you are. There is a fee for the workshop.
If you do not know your Enneagram Type, go to lindafrazee.com and read the information and follow the instructions to find the 2 or 3 types you most identify with. This is required to attend.
More information to come in October Snippets.
With love,
Hilda - #3 Enneagram Type
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