If someone were to say to you, “know thyself,” what would you think?

Maybe you already have a keen sense of self-awareness. So you already do know yourself pretty well. Or, so you think.

But, what if you and a group of your colleagues rated your character qualities. Would you come up with similar lists?

To answer this questions in the words of a Magic 8-Ball, “Don’t count on it.”

The reason behind this answer is simple—self-bias.

We’re all biased about ourselves, including you. After all, no one else but you has full VIP access to the back of your mind. But what this access does for you is create a clever concoction of your ideal self and your real self.

To know thyself means to drink the entire concoction instead of just the tasty “ideal” part. But, that is tricky.

Here’s why and some tips on how to truly know yourself well.

Treat Your Mind Like a U-Haul

Trying to see what’s behind a U-Haul truck is like trying to scratch an itch in the middle of your back. You just can’t do it very well.

Your mind is a lot like a U-Haul in that it has blind spots. There are certain qualities about yourself that you miss. Others can see them, but these areas elude you.

For most, the biggest blind spot is intelligence. On average, people think they’re more intelligent than they truly are.

You might even have fallen prey to this. Most of us do.

Not having clear insight about yourself can set you back in terms of the whole know thyself endeavor. But, if a U-Haul can back up, then you can get some clarity. So like that U-Haul, you might just need someone to help guide you there.

Take an Eye-Opening Look Under Your Hood

Not to keep referring to you as a machine fueled by gasoline, but in referring to you as such a machine, let’s look at what makes your engine purr. In other words, let’s talk about introspection. Which is completely necessary if you truly want to know yourself.

Here’s the thing about introspection, it’s uncomfortable. Of course, you don’t want to see every little character flaw. And you certainly don’t want others to see them either.

But self-examination can really open your eyes to the truth about yourself.

Though, introspection can get deep. So it’s not a bad idea to recruit a sounding board. In fact, asking others to help you understand what makes you tick is pretty much like propping your hood up to be fine-tuned. It’s a great strategy to really get to know yourself.

Let Your Iron Be Sharpened

When others get a feel for who you are and what motivates you as a person, they can do two things for you. Firstly, they can help you to better understand yourself. Secondly, they can help you to become a better version of you. This is where the old adage about iron sharpening iron comes into play.

To know thyself is to embrace feedback from others rather than letting it intimidate you or trying to defend yourself.

For instance, if you believe that you’re a dynamic multitasker but 99 percent of your colleagues say otherwise, you may want to hone in on that quality. Because they’re probably right.

Turning a weakness into a strength requires vulnerability on your part. It also means being honest with yourself and letting others be honest with you.

Get Lost with Someone

When NASA prepares a team of astronauts, they send them into the wilderness for over a week and a half. During this time, their guide intentionally gets them lost. The team must then pull together to survive.

Unsurprisingly, this creates an intensely strong camaraderie between the crew members. They come back from the wilderness mission knowing each other like the back of their own hands. And, knowing themselves better as well.

Enduring stressful or intense situations with another human naturally encourages a know yourself and know one another attitude. The weekly 45-minute “Get to Know Your Team” meeting at work—not so much.

Diving into the nitty-gritty inside workings of another human takes passion. To know thyself, you must crave and embrace this passion.

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If you’d like to explore your own true self in more depth, I can help. Reach out and contact me so we can get started on reaching your life goals.