something to ponder on

I am currently in a tute group, where every week the tutor gives us quotes to think over and use as tools of personal development and encouragement.


A couple of weeks ago the quote was:


This above all:
To thine own self be true,
for it must follow as dost the night the day,
that canst not then be false to any man


This is from Shakespeare's Hamlet. AND it got me to thinking....


What does it mean to know yourself?
Does it mean to know what you like, dislike, need, want, desire, despise?
what brings you happiness, joy, heartache, anger, sadness or pain?
what gets you fired up, passionate, fearful, motivated?
Does it mean understanding your own intentions, environment, internal and external pressures, short or long term goals?


How do you know when you get there?
When you've reached the pinnacle of understanding?
Everything changes all of the time
How do you know if you are following what you know of yourself, following your fears, or of what others want or expect of you?
How do you know if you are making decisions that are good and right reflections of yourself?
Or if you are playing avoidance, running away or toward the best direction for yourself?


What do you do when future and current situations and goals dont match up?
How do you know which self you should know, or follow?
right now or future self?
How do you reconcile this and find strength to move forward towards a good future?
And how and when do you decide that the future self is more important than the right now?


So, what was meant to be an encouragement to know yourself, I found terribly confronting, and thought provoking.
I dont have answers to these questions, but they dont haunt me, or hurt me - but they push me to greater understanding - I hope!


What I do find some solace in is something my late Grandmother used to say:


"What do you mean you have to go and find yourself? 
You are who you are!"


- Rachel Madeline Bicknell