Self-knowledge is the starting point on the journey of self-development. Self-knowledge gives us a window onto out potential. It indicates where our strengths lie, what things we are naturally good at and how we might combine our natural gifts with the opportunities around us. Here are some of the main ways to find out just where your potential lies.
Self-Research
The starting point for your journey of self-development is You, the person in the mirror. Looking at yourself, your strengths,likes and dislikes, preferences, and skills is an essential first step in your self-development plan. Here are some of the ways you can carry out your own self-research.
• look in the mirror and notice what you see
• journalise and diarise. Diaries are useful for recording events and your reactions to events.
• write down a dialogue with parts of yourself. If you have a fear, call it “Bill” and have a chat with him. He
might give you insights into what really makes him happy and what makes him afraid.
• get feedback on your work and behaviour from colleagues and friends. For a balanced view ask your critics’views as well.
• study your relationships and how they make you feel
• draw your life history to date and project it forward.
self-Knowledge
Here are 3 self-research techniques that will give you an insight into what directions you should be following.
1. Cluster Graphs. A Cluster Graph can show you who you like to be with and work with. It shows in a cluster
all the people who are important in your life. By analysing the sort of people you are interested in, you can
get a reflection of your own interests.
2. Repertory Grids. A Repertory Grid records the way you handle key incidents in your daily life and so
indicates the things you do with ease and those you find difficult.
3. Life Charts. A Life Chart draws a line of your life to the present date charting the ups and downs. You canproject it into the future to show where you want to go next.
Strengths
In “Play to Your Strengths”, Donald Clifton and Paula Nelson suggest five ways we can discover our strengths.
1. Listen for yearnings. Yearnings are often triggered when we see someone doing something we’d like to do or feel we could do better.
2. Watch for satisfactions. When we get a glow of satisfaction from doing a job, even though we don’t know
why, it’s likely to be a strength.
3. Watch for rapid learning. A strength is characterised by initial rapid learning that continues for a lifetime
Your True Passion
The secret to finding your strengths is to do what you love. Steve Jobs, legendary founder of Apple Computers and Pixar Animation Studios, said:
“Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick. Don’t lose faith. I’m convinced that the only thing that kept me going was that I loved what I did. You’ve got to find what you love. Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work.And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don’t settle.Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma - which is living with theresults of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”
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