Today I’d like to share my thoughts about the importance of knowing yourself. Really knowing yourself. Before we can lead others – in our families or in our careers – we need to be crystal clear about our values, beliefs, strengths, and weaknesses.

Self-knowledge grows out of contemplation, prayer, questioning yourself, and welcoming feedback from others. Here’s a story about taking time to contemplate - getting to know yourself by introspection:

Central park is in the heart of New York City. Outside the park taxis dart, people bustle, subway trains rush, the lights of Broadway sparkle.

But, within the bounds of Central Park is quiet serenity, where life appears in slow motion.

Bernard M. Baruch was called the “Park Bench Statesman.” He came to New York when he was ten years old. Bernard became an office boy at nineteen, a Wall Street partner at twenty-five, and a millionaire at thirty-five. During the five years after he made his first fortune, he served as a close adviser to five United States presidents.

Bernard Baruch developed the ability to get away from the downtown din, sitting on a quiet park bench, and thinking about himself, other people, and the world.

He said that if there was a “key” to his success, it was in his ability to appraise himself. He said that as he became better acquainted with himself he acquired a better understanding of others.

All of us in these hurrying times need to pause for “park bench” mediation, to evaluate out lives, count our blessings, determine how we can best serve others, and to visualize becoming our ideal selves.

We all need a personal Central Park.

“Know thyself” is an age-old maxim.

Can you stand boldly and articulate exactly who you are, why you believe and act the way you do, and what you’re doing to better the world?

It troubles me that we spend years in school learning about the lives of other people, but we devote hardly any time at all to studying ourselves. Too many of us understand the forces of American history but not the forces behind our personal histories.

Why do we need to know ourselves?

The answer is taught many times a day aboard every airplane: “If the cabin loses pressure, oxygen masks will fall from above. Put on your own mask first - before trying to assist others.”

Yes, truly knowing yourself is the first step toward helping others.

Email paula@theWINonline.com