What if, instead of focusing all our energy on our own mission and purpose, we brought that kind of intention to understanding others?

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“Know Thyself”

You’ve undoubtedly heard this philosophical maxim, often attributed to Socrates.

For thousands of years, this saying has led many of us on an introspective journey to discover who we are and what we’re meant to do with our lives.

The personal development industry (of which I’m a card-carrying member) has spawned countless books, workshops, and podcasts committed to this cause.

We’ve been led to believe that the better we understand our Enneagram, DISC, Meyers-Briggs, etc., assessment/profile, the closer we get to perfect relationships, the ideal career, and a joy-filled life.

While I see the value in understanding what makes us unique, I’m afraid our obsession with self-examination has gone a little too far. It focuses too much on the “me/I” and misses out on the “we”.

Humans don’t live in a vacuum; we live in communities, and our ability to thrive is directly related to how well we engage with others.

Instead of worrying so much about ourselves, embrace a new maxim:  

Know Others.

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—CJ McClanahan

Speaker | Advisor | Recovering Overachiever

CJ McClanahan