Ask Yourself - Who Are You?

I have been trying to answer this question for three weeks now. All I have come away with in that time is a feeling of awe over how such a simple three worded question can be so exceptionally complicated.

Through my conundrum, I have also concluded that to know yourself so thoroughly as to answer this immediately is a superpower greater than any that Superman, the most powerful being on fictitious Earth, could ever hope to possess.

I realise that I’m essentially saying that it’s impossible to answer the question “who are you?” For one, who you are is a combination of your thoughts and your actions. Your wants and your desires. Your values and the lines you’re never willing to cross. But these are such vast concepts that it’s near impossible to describe in mere sentences. Because how many thoughts have you had that you’ve forgotten all about but have been subtly shaping you and your actions? How do you know how you’ll react in certain circumstances if you’ve never truly encountered them? How do you know what lines you will cross when you haven’t ever been pushed that hard?

Still, we should try because there is exceptional value in ‘knowing thyself’. That’s why it’s a superpower. To know thyself is to have a deep understanding of your limits; of what you know and don’t know.

Unfortunately, all I know is that I don’t know what I don’t know. I barely even know what I know. Obviously, this takes me nowhere close to answering this question.

But still, let me try.

Knowing that there will definitely be blind spots that I can’t fill by myself, let me try to pin down what I think about, what I do, what I want, what I desire, what my values are, and what I’ll never do. In a few short sentences.

So, who am I?

I am a believer in freedom - everyone should do exactly what they want to themselves and for themselves, regardless of society. As long as others aren’t hurt.

I like the idea of having someone you’re head over heels for, but I have never felt the need to experience that personally. I’m not sure, but I definitely know that I don’t love love.

I want to be financially successful, but mainly because I don’t ever want to have to ask others for help.

I don’t like to ask others for help. And I don’t like others to ask me for help either. Essentially, I don’t want to be needed by anyone.

I want to know and be confident about the work I do. And I get anxiety thinking that I might never reach the level of expert knowledge I expect of myself.

I desire to limit, to the minimum possible, the amount of stress and suffering I have on this Earth - whether self-imposed or otherwise. This also means that I love to coast along without responsibilities.

It also means that I know that I am ultimately insignificant, and I might be okay with that.

I recognize that I don’t know the lines that I wouldn’t cross. I know that if the risk is worth it, I can’t vouch that I would never ever do something. Time and experience will tell.

I don’t think I can say more than this at this point. But perhaps being aware, reflective and noting down how time, thoughts and experiences are shaping who I am is enough for now.

Stay tuned I guess.