This is part two in a series of essential life skills. Link to part 1 is below:
This blog is about knowing yourself and learning thinking skills.
I came up with my own method of knowing myself based on my reading. I was prone to a lot of self deception when I was young. That is a flaw that will destroy your social life and career unless you counter it. I found the solution in coming across good role models (through my reading) and Buddhist mindfulness methods.
I am sure I don’t need to sell you on the importance of knowing yourself. In case I do I will quote Sun Tzu from his classic The Art of War:
If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.
The Art of War – Deluxe Edition : Sun Tzu: Amazon.in: Books
As to how to go about knowing yourself, the path is simple though not easy. Basically expose yourself to role models who have intellectual integrity and practice Buddhist mindfulness and meditation.
I had written about the importance of dealing with self deception in the blog below:
Reading Dick Francis novels and the philosophy books of Bertrand Russell gave me two excellent role models. But you need a way to deal with the disturbed feelings that arise when you are admitting painful home truths to yourself. The Buddhist master Thich Nhat Hanh showed me how to deal with the same:
Rather than give you yet another book to read do a Google search for the term:
thich nhat hanh on self deception
Google will give you all the resources you need on the subject.
Onwards.
Regarding thinking skills. I can say with complete confidence that if you take steps to free yourself of self deception you will have already taken giant strides in learning to think straight. More resources are given below. Freeing yourself of the ego is the first (often neglected) and most important step to thinking straight.
I don’t want to leave you overwhelmed so I will end my blog here. I am planning to publish the last blog in this 3 part series on Sunday.
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