The Ikigai Explorer

Article 7: To Know Thyself

Introduction

Exploration doesn’t always take you across continents. Some of the most challenging terrain you’ll ever chart is inward. In this article, we look at self-knowledge, not as a buzzword, but as a vital tool. Without a compass, a map is useless. Without self-awareness, even the boldest journey risks wandering.

Knowing yourself isn’t a single insight or epiphany. It’s a continual process of digging deeper, checking assumptions, and adjusting course. This is the work most people avoid, but it’s the very work that makes everything else meaningful.

Beyond the Surface

The phrase “Know thyself” is often attributed to Socrates, etched into stone at the Temple of Apollo at Delphi. But it’s more than just a philosophical quip; it’s a call to rigorous inner exploration. Most of us build an identity early on based on our family, our culture, or what earns us praise. But that version of ourselves can be a mask we don’t even realize we’re wearing.

I recall my time working for Disney and later Club Med in my 20s. On the surface, these were dream jobs. I got to travel, entertain, and be surrounded by people. I wore the identity well. But a subtle restlessness persisted. Was I building a future, or just collecting distractions? I don't regret those years, but I eventually realized I had been renting an identity, not living in one I’d built.

The Real Questions

At this stage in the journey, you can’t afford shallow answers. You need to ask, and re-ask, deep questions, honestly:

• What do I believe in when no one’s watching?
• What habits or behaviors am I doing because they’re expected, not because they feel right?
• What would I do every day if I never had to think about money again?
• When do I feel the most "me"? What environment, activity, or state of mind brings that out?

For me, it's while experiencing or documenting an expedition. The thrill of discovery and the challenge of capturing a story, these are all things I know I’d do even if no one paid attention. That’s how I know it’s real.

Beware the Identity Traps

We live in a world that encourages labeling, job titles, Instagram bios, and lifestyle branding. But identities built solely on external validation crumble when life shifts. A layoff, an illness, or even aging, these things challenge what we thought defined us.

It’s also easy to get swept into someone else’s story. I’ve done it, thinking that being a leather craftsman or a full-time filmmaker for others might fulfill me. But I had to recognize the pattern: the excitement of learning a new skill would fade once I realized the deeper calling wasn’t being answered. If my craft wasn’t connected to real adventure, real exploration, real story, it wasn’t enough.

Reflections

Take a quiet moment this week to ask yourself:

• What parts of your identity are roles you perform vs. truths you live?
• What would your younger self be proud of? Disappointed by?
• Who are you when no one’s watching?
• What would the version of you that you admire be doing more of?

This isn’t about reinventing yourself. It’s about remembering yourself.

Thought Exercise

I have a little mental storytelling you can try for yourself. Imagine being in a situation where you can be the architect of your own world. Maybe you have been given carte blanche on your own plot of heaven, or can create an AI world where you can live forever in whatever manner you wish. You get to decide what it looks like, your role in it, and who your companions are. What would that world look like? What would be the rules, if any? Who would you choose to spend your time with? What would you do with your time? What would your role or identity be in this world? Perhaps you would learn that in this world, money doesn’t matter, so you would make vastly different choices? Maybe your need for an audience or approval would be meaningless in this world, as would the expectations of your friends and family? This thought exercise can give you some clarity on your true essence by removing all the other influences.   

Closing Thought

To know yourself is not to arrive at a fixed answer; it’s to stay curious about your own inner workings, to notice the patterns, to have the courage to adjust when something doesn’t feel true anymore. Self-awareness is the foundation of every meaningful decision. It is your internal compass. Without it, even the most heroic journey will drift off course.

Looking Ahead

In the final article of the Ikigai Explorer series, we’ll bring everything together. It’s time to explore how your unique path becomes a mission, not just for your own sake, but for those you inspire along the way. We will also discuss the benefits of knowing your authentic self. You’ve explored. You’ve discovered. Now it’s time to share.