Know thyself

 The Greek philosopher Socrates said, "Know thyself." It's good advice, and it's one of the most difficult things we will ever do. It's not easy to look deep within ourselves to really know who we are and what we believe. Most of us can provide an outward show of what we believe people want us to be, but to look within ourselves and see what's really happening down in the depths of our being isn't as easy.

To know ourselves is to look at those values that make us who we are. These values drive our behavior affecting not only our own lives but also the lives of those around us. Too often, persons in leadership positions in business, politics and even in the church have done great harm to many by proclaiming one set of values and living another. Were these people intentionally pretending to be something they were not, or were they so self-unaware that they didn't know who they really were? There's probably some of both in play. Some are frauds who have mastered the art of fooling people. Others have simply not taken the time to really examine what drives them.

What values should we be looking for. John Maxwell, in his book The 5 Levels of Leadership: Proven Steps to Maximize Your Potential share three key areas: ethical values, relational values and success values. Ethical values are concerned with doing the right thing for the right reason. It's possible to do the right thing for the wrong reason. For instance, one can befriend someone with the long-range plan of taking advantage of them later. Being ethical means that we always strive to do the right things for the right reasons.

Relational values are focused on building trust and respect with other people. This involves doing what you say you are going to do, treating people with respect and dignity, and going the extra mile to serve them well.

Success values ensures that you set goals that are worthy of spending your life pursuing. There's nothing worse than climbing the ladder of success and finding out at the top that it was leaning against the wrong building. How do you measure true success in your life? The answer to that question will tell you much about your values.

To know yourself is the beginning of wisdom and is essential to enjoying true success in life. It's hard work, and it's not something you can do once and then ignore. It's important to re-examine yourself from time to time to make sure you are still on the right track with your values.