Know Thyself

In Psychology, we’re learning about intelligence. Howard Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences considers eight different intelligences, one being intrapersonal intelligence. Clearly, having self-knowledge is so important that it contributes to intelligence. Knowing yourself, or knowing how you feel and why you feel and act the way you do, is crucial if you want any control of your life. I can’t even count the number of times I’ve had to ask friends with boyfriend problems “Well, what do you want?” I tell them you can’t possibly expect the relationship to go how you want it to if you don’t know which way that is. It’s hard to be satisfied with any outcome if you don’t know how you feel or what your position on it is. Also, it’s difficult to have any control over what you do if you don’t know why you do it. Psychologists are often helpful in uncovering people’s deep emotional problems, which leads the patients to have a better understanding of why they may do certain things. Gaining self-knowledge is the first step in solving many issues in life.

I believe my weakness is that I don’t get close enough to people to let them get to know me. I tend to come off as a very quiet, introverted person. However, only with very few people, I am loud and don’t stop talking. I don’t get close to many people because I choose my friends very carefully, which is a strength, but I should probably be more accepting of others and let them in. I have tried to combat this weakness and become closer to more people but none of those relationships have lasted. I just have to keep trying until I find the right ones.

My strength is that I have always been able to remain my own person. I don’t make friends with certain people just to fit in and I only want to surround myself with genuine people. Anyone would be lying to say that he or she doesn’t care what people think about him or her, so I’m not going to say that. I admit that I care, but only a very little bit. This is why I’m not easily influenced by others. I haven’t caught either of the college-crazy or boy-crazy diseases. I do my own thing and I am proud to have that as my best quality.

Surprisingly, I didn’t find it all that hard to think and write about my own strengths and weaknesses and I didn’t mind having to do it. I suppose this is because I know myself. I’m not saying I know myself completely and I have it all figured out because I’m not sure if I ever will, but I think I’m off to a good start. I generally know what my strengths and weaknesses are; the difficult part was choosing one of each because I have some qualities that are equally good or equally bad.