[January 24, 2022] The Greeks had a maxim, “know thyself.” This maxim, of course, was not new in the time of the Greeks. The importance of knowing yourself as the basis of a successful life goes back into the darkness of human antiquity. It is a story that repeatedly resonates. Why? Because it’s true.
How do we come to know ourselves in terms of personality and potential? The first way to understand yourself is to understand you don’t. With practice, you can learn to observe your behavior like that of a stranger. However, to do this, you must have a form of extreme humility. There are two sources to this humility: recognizing your ignorance and being ignorant about your potential.
You will discover a little about your potential as you discover who you are. You will also discover the darker, malevolent part of yourself. And, there’s some utility in knowing your potential for mayhem and destruction. It is essential to realize how to incorporate that dangerous part of yourself into a higher-order personality that can make you unstoppable.
The other thing you can do to discover yourself is to challenge yourself. Look at what you could and should improve yourself (even if it is very small) by your standards. Set yourself some small goals to start and take them. Then take larger and larger challenges. Take responsibility for yourself; stand up with your shoulders back.
When you’re ignorant and biased and deeply flawed and immature, it’s where everyone starts. Challenge yourself continually to see how far past yesterday you can push today and tomorrow. Continually experiment with expanding the domains not only of your competence but of your ability to increase that competence.
The upper limit you can achieve depends on your effort into it. The more it’s accompanied by truth, speech, and action, the more you will develop your potential. This is a willing adventure. Such actions will take you out of the ordinary, and there is deep meaning to be had in it. There is nothing any better you can do.
—————
Please read my new book, “Our Longest Year in Iraq,” at Amazon (link here).
Quote, “ You will discover a little about your potential as you discover who you are. You will also discover the darker, malevolent part of yourself.” Scary idea. But absolutely true!
This is the most basic piece of advice you can get. Most folks have no clue who they are or the impact of their actions and speech. Today, folks are very reluctant to tell someone they are wrong. or tell them they are doing something stupid. Part of our culture is changing here and not for the better.
Don’t be so surprised with all the ‘cancelling’ and stripping us of free speech.
Classic, thank-you gen, satterfield.
You had best know your weaknesses and are doing something about them, else you will fall flat on your face. Don’t be sucked into the “I’m Okay Your’e Okay” syndrome of the psych feel good ideas of the past.
Good comment Wesley. That is all about how we can learn as a society but to do so, we need to focus better and read websites and books and articles that are informative and not just propaganda. That means don’t read the news media biased stuff.
The Greeks! Well, before the Greeks this very question was asked. ✔
When you’re ignorant and biased and deeply flawed and immature, it’s where everyone starts.
That is the crux of Gen. Satterfield’s article, so let us not overlook it. When you compare yourself to others and see how far along they’ve come, we tend to forget this. So do not compare yourself to others.
How to know yourself. An ancient question that we continue to try to answer. This is a start. Why? Because it is the foundation of being a better person and better leader. Without knowing the answer, we are apt to make major mistakes of great magnitude. Like Joe Biden’s debacle in Afghanistan. He has Zero humility and it shows up in his terrible policies and decisions. For all to see these failures should be enough for the common man to say NO, I will not give up my liberty for a tyrant wannabe.
Yes, an ancient question but we should continue to ask it and try to answer. It’s the process of answering, more than the answer, that is useful for us as humans.
Yes!!! Dead Pool Guy gets it — it’s the process.
The PROCESS is important because it expands our thinking and knowledge. It allows us to ready ourselves for what ever comes our way.
Spot-on article, thank you!!!
❤
“Extreme humility” hmmmmm, I’ve read this before somewhere but I cannot remember where. Extreme humility, maybe it could be taken too far and you become an empath. But I do see where Gen. Satterfield is coming from here and that is to educate us to its benefits. Why? Simple! The basis of humility is the admission that we don’t know everything necessary to achieve what we want … the first step toward leadership …. because you mush convince others to help you achieve what you want.
What is the link between humility and patriotism to your country? Now that should be explored.
Great idea Linux Man. I’ll be the first to take a strike at the answer. Humility means that you adopt loyalty as means to the end of better understanding. You achieve loyalty, then others will help you.
Good suggestion.
Another excellent article on this important and useful website. Leaders, take note. 😊
Gen. Satterfield is again getting a bit too far out on the philosophical tree. Let’s reign that back in, sir.
Yeah, but important for Gen. S. to establish a baseline for discussions. This is important, nonetheless, and I would like for him – maybe not to the liking of others – to elaborate on this article a bit more.
Yes Karl and I think he has done that in the past, so expect more soon.
Army Captain, thanks for your input and I think what you might be saying is that what Gen. Satterfield should make clear (and I’m not so sure he hasn’t) is the direct application of these ideas of humility. Humility is two parts. That is something I’ve never thought about.
We should take a close look at these applications.