‘The greatest evil that can befall man is that he should come to think ill of himself.’ 

This quote from Von Goethe illustrates the power of thought, which is ultimately the dominant power defining self-concept. It lends credence to the importance of cultivating a positive regard for yourself, something that people often find themselves grappling with.

We are ever changing, never static, as we journey through life. We birth new beginnings and survive endings. Psychology has assumed a leadership role in the global preoccupation with the nature of the Self, in recognition of how it impacts mental health. 

There is truth in the ancient Greek aphorism ‘know thyself’ and I have encountered this first hand. I am of the opinion that Self-knowledge is a significant stepping stone in understanding the nature of oneself and this facilitates the understanding of others.

Self-concept is an amalgamation of valuable information. It originates from social comparisons, cultural teachings and your own interpretations. When evaluated, it is the image of yourself as reflected by others. In a nutshell self-concept is typically comprised of your self-image, self-worth and ideal self, and is constantly evolving.



To know thyself is the beginning of wisdom

The command “Know thyself” stretches back as far as man can remember. I had to dig deep to establish an image of my current self-concept. It is critical to candidly answer questions dealing with Who, What and How I am. In addition exploring feelings and thoughts about my abilities, limitations, strengths and weaknesses. 

Through this process, I have learnt the Self resides in our mind. It is a creation of our thoughts, expressed in our feelings, behaviours and thoughts. It is impacted by our relationships with significant others, their responses and how we want to be seen by others. Therefore, this self-esteem is typically considered to be multifaceted, dynamic construct and the developmental product of reciprocal interactions. Put differently, our self-concept directs our attention and impacts the absorption of new knowledge, and aids our understanding of our world.

The saying “He who knows others is wise, but he that knows himself is enlightened” should be taken to heart by everyone.

At this moment in time I challenge you to take a look in the mirror and rediscover your true self.