The Journey from What to Why

“The advantages of getting older—why do so few explore the blessings of age?—are experience and, through experience, acceptance. If we accept age as a gift of acquired wisdom, there is an added bonus: a feeling of freedom.”—Helen Noakes

Waking Point

By Helen Noakes

“Know thyself.”—One of the Delphic maxims.

SAN FRANCISCO California—(Weekly Hubris)—5/9/2016—I’ve evolved from “Who am I?” to “Why am I?” The latter is a less frantic journey fueled more by mind than body. But in some mysterious way, it strengthens my body, rendering it more resilient.

So much of who we are is driven by our imaginings, by the lists of don’ts and musts drummed into us since we first drew breath.

The advantages of getting older—why do so few explore the blessings of age?—are experience and, through experience, acceptance. If we accept age as a gift of acquired wisdom, there is an added bonus: a feeling of freedom. Gone is the need to convince others of our worth, because we know our worth. We know our value rests on how we live rather than the price of our stock portfolio. We know that our value connects directly to the honesty and courage we continue to demand of ourselves in our travels inward.

Having been on that expedition for years, we’ve built a solid foundation to who we are today. And if that structure does not compare favorably to someone else’s criteria, age has taught us to remind ourselves that it is our integrity in seeking our personal truth which has built this person we call self, and it is truth which makes that self vitally unique.

Whether we are young enough to perceive the end of life as a pinpoint in the distant future, or old enough to see that pinpoint transformed into a gateway, the journey inward is essential. And it is never too early or too late to embark on it.

There is an element of adventure to any travel, but what is unique about the voyage into our own depths is the immense courage required to explore further, deeper. There are, of course, immense rewards as well, for discoveries which might seem trivial at first take on profound meaning when we encounter hitherto hidden truths.

When we examine our truths through the lens of life experience, they become the bedrock of our strength, the catalyst to the way we engage our inherent talents, the way we interact with others and the world.

There is some debate as to whether “γνωθι σεαυτόν” should be translated as “know thyself” or “know for thyself.” While scholars may dispute the fine points of translation, I find the argument unnecessary. Both statements are refinements of interrelated maxims which define the essential purpose of our existence.

To know ourselves we must, of course, know for ourselves, and neither can be accomplished without a deep examination of who we are at our core. And to acquire that knowledge we must undertake the journey. That journey usually begins with “Who am I?” but where it leads is entirely personal.

I urge you to take it, for until and unless you know who and what you are, you cannot live life fully.

Note: The first image above derives from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Know_thyself.