The saying "Man knows Thyself!" is a cliche. Self examination is a tool that has been used by thousands of successful people for millenniums. Successful people are those who have a good knowledge of the person inside them, they know how to manage and control this person. Do you want to be successful in life? to be able to handle situations more appropriately?, gain self confidence?, adapt to any situation or environment? First thing, you have to know yourself.

This article would stimulate you to to join in the list of other great men who have benefited from the always rewarding act of self examination. Amongst them to name a few were, Isaac Newton, Socrates, Albert Einstein and Andrew Carnegie.

When you reach the final goal of self examination and action, you shall better manage stress, you shall be able to deal with your ego more appropriately while developing assertiveness. Also read Effective Ways of Dealing With Annoying People.

Knowing oneself does not suffice if you just act like you don't care about making a change for the better. Without taking active involvement in the creative processes of  your life, the path you take in life will simply be driven by 'luck' and 'chance'. Your chances of growing positively will either be diminished or be entirely limited. You would discover your true potential and claim your birth right, happiness (How to Be Happy: The Magic of Happiness Every One Should Learn)

Self knowledge implies identifying your weaknesses and strengths. Spending some time daily, monthly or yearly to examine yourself is quite a big step towards success, but drawing resolutions and amending them is tantamount to greatness. Great people spend sometime of the day searching their hearts, looking for the different aspects of their lives in which they are doing well, as well as those areas that are negative and pulling them down.

Knowing yourself means genuinely examining yourself from an external point of view with some favoritism and ego eliminated. It's more common to makeup a reason for a negative attitude or habit so that you won't feel guilty about it. This is a defence mechanism you have built from childhood. You have to modify this defence mechanism so that it can act in your favour rather than being deceptive.

Be truthful to yourself for there is no other person in the examining room of your mind. Take each aspect of your life and verify if your doing it right; whether you are happy with it. Without this self examination the tendency is to let those negative aspects persist.

The inability to implement what you have learnt from self examination means continuously hurting and widening the gap between you and your success. Commonly faced by many are issues related to Procrastination, Persistence, Loosing faith, Personality, Prompt decision making, fear and doubt, state of Relationship with others, lack of concentration, open mindedness/tolerance, bad habits, time management, guilt, to name a few.

Using these common issues outlined above, it is advisable to make a personal inventory of a self analysis questionnaire. Use daily, weekly or monthly to see if you are moving ahead, stagnant or regressing. After doing this you should clearly state and write down your new day, new week, new month or new year resolutions.

Remember to act on these resolutions and not just have them because everyone gets a resolution but only a few act on them.

By the way, if you don't do exercises like this how do you truely know which direction your life is taking, meaning the act of self examination is indispensable. As you grow you should be having a DECREASE IN THE NUMBER OF FAULTS and an increase in VIRTUES.

Start Today, retire to quiet area, rest and examine yourself genuinely, make a personal inventory and act on it. I can assure you that your life will never be the same. Remember persistence is key.

By Ebasone P. Vanes  Follow @VanesPee  
                       
                            Also  Follow @ThinkersMight