Apollo

Historians say that in the Temple of Apollo at Delphi in ancient Greece, the maxim “Know thyself” was among several inscribed on a column.

This phrase has been subject to many interpretations. My favorite interpretation of this phrase is: in order to maximize our potential, we should understand our limits.

Strengths and Weaknesses

We are all born with unique advantages and imperfections, and we should acknowledge the traits we are born with.

For instance, if we are good at something, we should do our best to maximize what is given to us.

If we are bad at something, we should accept these limitations and do things to minimize them. We can strategically reduce our weaknesses with practice or preparation. We can also devise plans that allow us to use our strengths instead.

Comparison with Others

No two individuals have exactly the same life and environment - much of what we observe is the result of chance and circumstance. As a result, everyone has different strengths and weaknesses, at different times.

So while comparing ourselves with others can occasionally be useful, in most situations it can be highly misleading and illogical. I personally feel that it does more harm than good to our confidence and distracts us from our priorities.

Conclusions

It is common for us to want to reach our greatest potential in life. But to do this, I believe it is important to “know thyself” first.

Through honest reflection of what we are good and bad at, we can identify what we really need to focus on.

In the long run, knowing our limits and possibilities can lead to greater wisdom, higher satisfaction, and better relationships with others.

References

Temple of Apollo: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_of_Apollo_(Delphi)