Principle: Knowing yourself will help you counter self-delusion and pursue the unique contribution you alone are capable of making.
The stories we believe about how the world works often play a critical role in helping us interpret the meaning of events. They provide a framework–a worldview–through which we filter our experiences. As such, the stories we tell ourselves–and tell about ourselves–can be either motivating, contributive forces or limiting, destructive forces as we strive to unleash our best work. It’s important that we gain an understanding of not only what those deeply held beliefs are, but also how they might be affecting our daily activity. Doing so, and then mapping our activity around that self-knowledge, is one of the keys to sustained success.
Emulate Your Superheroes
You want to choose attributes to emulate that will help you become more of who you are, not more of who they are. It does you no good to simply pull off the mask you’re wearing and put on a slightly more desirable one. The goal is to recognize the things you admire about others so that you can tap into those qualities, and so begin to tap into your own ethic.
There are a few clues that you can pay attention to if you want to identify the confluent qualities. As you become more aware of your motivations, these little clues will pop up like a red flag each time you encounter someone who you find personally inspiring.
- What intimidates you?
- What resonates with you?
- What complicates your life?
Excavate Your Assumptions
In order to approach your work effectively and ensure that you are bringing all of what you have to offer, you need to develop a practice of scanning your life for these potentially false assumptions and limiting beliefs. The first step toward radical self-awareness is a willingness to explore whether your beliefs about work line up with the reality of your situation.
How do you uncover the assumptions and narratives that might be forming your mind-set? It can be a true challenge, given that many of them may be baked into your very perception of the world. But try to step outside your life. Approach it like a scientist, and include others in your quest as well. Here’s how to begin the process:
- Set aside time
- Identify the patterns
- Create a “watch list”
- Seek feedback
The Importance of Authenticity
Don’t allow assumptions, destructive narratives imposed by others, or unrealistic expectations to define your engagement today. Instead, decide in advance how you will approach the task at hand. Act, observe, then redirect. Strive to know yourself, because once you do, you will be brilliantly positioned to make a valuable and unique contribution.
* Source: Die Empty by Todd Henry