#personal-growth #personal # Self introspection - {{date}} The purpose of these reflections is to answer the question “Who I am?” (your [Self-Concept](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-concept)). Aim to capture as much of yourself as possible, in as many ways as you can (e.g., writing, bullet points, storytelling, pictures, movies, [mind maps](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mind_map), flowcharts, etc.). Let’s start: ## **Self** _Action: Reflect on your subagent, [temporal](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5014720/), and [shadow](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1avlMxZaP4BMHPAY3Cd1AFd3tEKoIYSjncx4dBMBQjdc/edit#heading=h.w498k2cotm6t) selves. You don’t need to know, what these terms mean right now, just go through the prompts below. Skim each of these sections and give yourself a timelimit now (type 0 if you don’t feel like doing the exercise today)._ If you have done them, or the timer is up, set a reminder to review them in a few weeks (set different times, so it’s not all at once) - Notes: ### **Who Are You?** _Action: Write out your answer to the question, “Who am I?” Include different versions of you that are relevant to different contexts (e.g., In Public vs. In Private Selves, Online vs. In Real Life Selves, etc.)._ --- - Time: --- ### **Who Were You?** _Action: Write out your answer to the question, “Who did I used to be?” Include different versions of you that are relevant to different contexts (e.g., In Public vs. In Private Selves, Online vs. In Real Life Selves, etc.)._ --- - Time: --- ### **Who Will You Be?** _Action: Write out your answer to the question, “Who will I become?” Include different versions of you that are relevant to different contexts (e.g., In Public vs. In Private Selves, Online vs. In Real Life Selves, etc.)._ --- - Time: --- ### **One-Liner** _Action: Write out your current “one-liner” describing who you are. If you have multiple versions, include all of them. If you had previous versions, include them as well._ --- - Time: --- ### **Biographies** _Action: Write out your current short (usually between 50-200 words) and full biographies. If you’ve had previous versions, include them as well._ _Also write out how your best friend or close family member would describe you. If you don’t know what they would say, you can ask them. Here’s a template email: “Hey X, quick random favor: can you write out a short bio for me in your own words? It doesn't have to be a formal one I use publicly--just a rough draft of me through your own eyes. It’s part of [UP](http://www.upgradable.org/) (a self-development program) I’m doing. Happy to do the same for you if you happened to want it.”_ --- - Time: --- ### **Life Story** _Action: Write out your life story from the day you were born until now. Also write out what you expect the remainder of your life story to be._ --- - Time: --- ### **Epic Life Story** _Action: Write out a short “epic” version of your life story, with a beginning, middle, and end. You would retell what you’ve done up until now and then extrapolate out the rest of your life’s deeds. Write in the past tense as if you were a future biographer retelling your story. Use colorful and potentially exaggerated language. Potentially use a fictional context (e.g., reimagine your life as if you were a great wizard or warrior). Creativity is helpful._ --- - Time: --- ### **Unique Attributes** _Action: List all of your unique attributes. These are traits, skills or other characteristics that few others besides yourself possess._ --- - Time: --- ### **Strengths & Weaknesses** _Action: Write out your current strengths and weaknesses. Also include previous strengths and weaknesses analyses you’ve done in the past._ --- - Time: --- ### **Interests** _Action: Write out all of your current interests, loves, obsessions, etc. Also include previous interests, loves, obsessions, etc. that you no longer hold._ --- - Time: --- ### **Shadow Self** _Action: Dispassionately examine your [shadow self](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shadow_(psychology)) (i.e., every part of you that is generally below conscious awareness). Dig deep. It may help to look at the things you least like in other people--search for those things in yourself, as well. Write down in paragraphs or bullet points what surfaces for you right now. Revisit this 1-2 times and elaborate or expand until you feel it captures as much of your shadow as you can currently access._ --- - Time: --- ### **Visual Representation** _Action: Draw yourself as best you can. Include all the pertinent parts of you and your life. Image quality doesn’t matter. If you had created visualizations in the past, include them as well._ --- - Time: --- Don’t forget to set reminders. Also reflect here how valuable it felt doing theses exercises: # External links