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“Know thyself.”

This simple admonition was inscribed in the Temple of Apollo at Delphi in Ancient Greece. Plato attributed these same words to the Seven Wise Men in Protagoras around 400 BC. Today, almost two-and-a-half millennia later, individuals still seek the key to understanding themselves.

Why are we such mysteries to ourselves? How can we be so blind to our own failings, and yet so quick to see the faults of others? Why do we blunder into circumstances that many around us see as futile—yet we are convinced they are for our own highest good?

It seems the quest for self knowledge is a part of the human condition. The psyche intrigues us, yet we know so little about it. We wonder why others react to life’s situations differently than we do.

Have you ever heard someone say “I need to be true to myself” or “I want to be the person I really am deep down inside”?

One of the most courageous actions you can take to create a happier, more fulfilling life is to become more familiar with the real—or inner—you. Identify your natural characteristics and strengths, your hopes and dreams, and the gifts you have to share with others.

Most of us are very busy juggling all the day-to-day activities of modern living: work, family, and friends. Because we’re so busy, we never seem to get around to making the changes we believe will help us feel more fulfilled and happy.

Take a moment to ask yourself a few thought-provoking questions about your life:

•Are you happy in your job? Do you have dreams of making a career change that would lead you toward a more fulfilling direction?

•How are your personal relationships? Have you been meaning to make time to work on your marriage or to build a better rapport with your kids? Maybe you know you need to end a relationship or want to start a new one, but the months fly by without anything happening.

•What about your outside interests? Do you schedule time for hobbies, classes and activities that enrich your life; or do you find that there’s never enough time for that sort of thing?

•Is your life headed in the general direction you want it to take, or does it seem as if you’re overdue for some major course adjustments?

If your life isn’t exactly on track at the moment, you can look at how you’d like things to change and start taking small but steady steps toward a new beginning.

“What lies behind and what lies before you are tiny matters compared to what lies within you.”— Ralph Waldo Emerson

We find the four “cornerstone” behavioral traits — Dominance, Extroversion, Patience and Structure — useful in helping people identify the driving forces behind their behaviors. We all have these traits within ourselves to one degree or another. What’s more, they constantly work to determine how we act, or react, to life’s ongoing challenges.

As we explore these traits, consider your predominant trait, as well as which of the other traits actively determine your reactions to life. Think about whether they contribute in a positive or negative manner to your life and how they might help or hinder your progress.

Although a complex web of factors determines each person’s behavior, there are certain traits that create predictable “constellations” of feelings and behavioral patterns. To understand what makes us tick, learn what these traits are and how to recognize them.

An important thing to remember about behavioral traits is that there’s nothing “good” or “bad” about any of them. Behavioral traits just are. Once we understand and accept ours without judgment, we can begin to make informed decisions about how we want them to influence our lives.

We applaud you for embarking on your journey of self-awareness. It promises to be challenging and rewarding. So take a deep breath, relax, and leap in. You are about to discover the power of your personal potential!