Know Thyself.

Socrates (Apology)

Know Thyself.

Socrates (Apology)

"I know that I do not know.”

"A book can answer no questions.”

"An unexamined life is not worth living."

WHY?

The unexamined life is not worth living.

Socrates (Apology)http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/philosophy-guide-to-happiness/

(Socrates and Self-Confidence)

Self-conquest is the greatest of

victories.

Plato (427-347 BC)http://www.dandelion-books.com/support-files/rediscovering_plato.pdf

吾十有五而志於學，三十而立，四十而不惑，五十而知天命，六十而耳順，七

十而从心所欲，不逾矩。

At fifteen my heart was set on learning; at thirty I stood firm; at forty I had no more doubts; at fifty I knew the mandate of heaven; at sixty my ear was obedient; at seventy I could follow my heart's desire without transgressing the norm.

(Confucius, Analects)

It is wisdom to know others;It is enlightenment to know one's self.

Lao-Tzu (6th century B.C.) The Way of Life

http://www.iep.utm.edu/laozi/

Know the enemy and know yourself, and you can fight a hundred battles with no danger of defeat.

Sun-Tzu(4th Century B.C.) was an ancient Chinese military general, strategist and philosopher

http://www.pdftop.com/view/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5hcnRvZndhcnN1bnR6dS5jb20vQXJ0JTIwb2YlMjBXYXIlMjBQREYucGRm

Self-knowledge is the beginning of self-improvement.

Baltasar Gracián Jesuit Priest

(1601-1658)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baltasar_Graci%C3%A1n

Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves.

Carl Jung Psychotherapist

http://www.carl-jung.net/biography.html

WHO AM I?

I am what I possess?Electronic gadgets?

Grades?

Scholarship?

Giftedness?

WHO AM I?

I am what I do?Captain of a CCA?

Councilor?

Leader of a group?Friend? Son?

WHAT AM I?

What if my possessions,

certificates, and roles were taken away from me?

Questions Of An EXISTENTIALIST

Is this really who I amIs this what I really want to be?

Self-Discovery is a PROCESS

PLATO’s CAVEhttp://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=11j1zayvrDI&vq=medium#t=11

If most of us remain ignorant of ourselves, it is because self-knowledge is painful and we prefer the pleasures of illusion.

Aldous Huxley(1894-1963)

The Perennial Philosophyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aldous_Huxley

We wear MASKS to hide our identity

Mr Know-It-All (to hide my insecurity)

Mr Nice (to hide my need for approval & acceptance)

Mr Helpful Mr Joker

Mr Yes …

HOW TO REMOVE A MASK(R-A-C-E)

Recognise – the kind of mask I’m wearing to put up a good show.

Aware & Ask – the “shouldn’ts”, “couldn’ts” are they really “inappropriate”?

Courage to let go of the mask that is giving you false security and limiting your growth.

Endure – the first few discomforting moments as you journey closer to Enjoy being yourself!

EXISTENTIALISM

A philosophy that emphasizes •the uniqueness and isolation of the

individual experience •stresses freedom of choice and

•responsibility for the consequences of one's acts.

http://education.yahoo.com/reference/dictionary/entry/existentialism

• concerned with lived experience, not abstract speculation (disagree with Descartes)

• Existence (how you act and live) precedes essence(nature of mankind). So you take responsibility for your actions instead of blaming on circumstances or your nature.

EXISTENTIALISM

• Not to dwell in the past and be shaped by the past, but to explore and bring truth into being. Not to be stuck in conformity. Self-affirming (requires courage) instead of waiting for approval and wearing masks(bad faith) (Simone de Beauvoir)

• NOTE : I am free to choose but not necessarily to achieve what I want.

EXISTENTIALISM

• Being free, we are without excuse and take full responsibility for our actions.

• In choosing freedom and values for ourselves, we do so for everyone.

• We cannot blame our circumstances for what we choose to do.

• In existentialist theology, God is the ultimate frame of reference.

EXISTENTIALISM

Study the heart and the mind of man, and begin with your own. Meditation and reflection must lay the foundation of that knowledge, but experience and practice must, and alone can,

complete it.

Lord ChesterfieldLetter to his son, June 6, 1751

http://www.basicfamouspeople.com/index.php?aid=88

GAIN

Or

PAIN

My Endeavours

We wear MASKS to hide our identity

Mr Know-It-All (to hide my insecurity)

Mr Nice (to hide my need for approval & acceptance)

Mr Helpful Mr Joker

Mr Yes …

Switching Negative to Positive ThoughtsNegative Thoughts Positive Thoughts

It’s impractical. Let’s look for parts of it that will work.

It’s too expensive. Is there part of it we could do more cheaply?

I’ll be laughed at. Many great ideas started off by being ridiculed.

It’s risky. What’s the worst that can happen?

I’ll lose face if my junior has the ‘winning’ idea.

Haven’t they done well under my supervision and guidance? It will reflect well on me.

I can’t accept that this new person has had a better idea than me.

I’m glad I work in a place where we’re not stuck in a rut.

This new idea might make my work up to now useless.

My work has been a good foundation, and this idea hasn’t come from nowhere.

I don’t want anyone else to get the credit.

I can also get credit for supporting good ideas and finding ways to implement them.

It’s a good idea but no one ‘upstairs’ will listen.

Let’s find appropriate ways to ‘sell’ our idea.

I don’t like the person who’s come up with this idea.

I may not like them but I can respect their intelligence.

Story of…

Story of…

Everyone brings joy…

Some in their coming…

Others in their going.

JOURNAL ENTRYMy endearing qualities are…

My MOST endearing quality is…

My Guiding Principle(s) to being me…

EG: My Guiding PrincipleSelf-Control

- I can control who I want to be and what I want to become

- Control the uncontrollable (others and circumstances) is suffering

- Let go of my need to control/manipulate (eg if my parents love me they must spend time with me; if my girlfriend loves me, she must do as I request; if you are my best friend, you should not tell about my offense)

- Golden Rule to check if they are applicable