Do You Know Yourself?

Do you know yourself?  It’s a crazy question to some people and, for others, a very uncomfortable one to ask.  I happen to think that most people, even when they reach retirement, don’t know themselves as well as they think they do.  They may be very self-focused, but that’s not the same thing.  In fact, it’s usually a cover up for something that’s a little hard for them to admit.  If you’re uncomfortable being by yourself, there’s a reason for it and it might be something you might want to explore.  We’ve all heard the adjective “comfortable in your own skin”.  While I don’t think it’s particularly eloquent, it describes a feeling that I regard as a positive attribute.  I think it means that you have really examined yourself and, basically, you like what you see.  There’s always room for improvement and everyone is a work in progress, but, at this point, you’re comfortable being who you are.  You don’t need to be famous, you don’t need to be rich and although you might make certain tweaks to your appearance, you’re satisfied with where you are at this point in your life.  That doesn’t mean you’re complacent.  No, people should never become so satisfied with their existence that they stop improving and becoming a better version of themselves.  It should be a question of some complexity and not easily dismissed.

Do you know yourself?  What are most proud of in your life?  What do you wish you could change?  What makes you angry and what makes you truly happy?  What are you most grateful for in your life? Taking the time to answer questions like these (and there are plenty of others) is a good first step in the self-discovery process.  It is an exercise that is very much worth doing and, although it sounds a little selfish or self-centered, if you take the time to do it completely it has just the opposite effect.  You realize how much you have to be grateful for and that the best feelings you’ve experienced have usually been when you’re enjoying the company of others.  This has been referred to as an area known as self-improvement and I have been a believer in this discipline for close to forty years.  Although a lot of the literature in this genre relates to money and getting rich, you’ll find the most meaningful ones are about how to build character and always putting others first.  I know these principles work and I hope I never stop using the skills that I’ve learned from these books to make changes to my own life.

Do you know yourself as well as you think you do?

Do you know yourself?  The gift of retirement is a golden opportunity to make sure that you do.  If there’s anything to change, it’s never too late to make amends.  The journey of self-discovery can lead you to some amazing conclusions and take you places that you never thought of going.  There are people who actually join a monastery in their later years and devote their time to prayer.  While that may seem extreme, there are many others who use their free time in retirement to volunteer somewhere like a church or hospital or veterinarian.  Senior citizens are a prime audience for adopting a dog or cat or going into an elementary school to read a story.  I really believe when you look back at your life after sixty or seventy years, you’ll see a pattern that you didn’t see while you were in the middle of the battle we call life.  When you get to know yourself better you realize what’s important.  Sometimes the things we missed along the way become evident when we sit down and make an effort to improve ourselves now.  You no longer need to go to a training class to learn a new skill for work, but it doesn’t mean you can’t continue to learn new skills to help you live life a little bit better.

Do you know yourself?  It’s always a good question to ask yourself from time to time.  So much happens in life it’s always good to evaluate how you’re reacting to everything that comes your way.  You have decades of learning and experience behind you so why not share it?  Why not become an even better person than you are now?  It’s absolutely amazing how the lives of people around you can change through one simple act of love.  Why not be that person who can change a life with just a simple act or a few words of wisdom. It’s easier than you think and the world can use more of it.  You might be just the person that someone needs to hear from.  Go make it happen. It’s time to go change the world one person at a time.  It’s time to Enjoy Retired Life!

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