Chapter 2

Reflection and Journal Writing: "Who am I?"

Know thyself is a very old maxim inscribed in the temple of Apollo at Delphi. It dates back as far as
ancient Greece. Yet, the advice remains alive and worth doing until now. In Greek, it is gnothi
seauton. In Latin, it is temet nosce. After learning significant things about yourself, reflect on your
discoveries. Under the title "who am I?," write something about yourself.

Chapter 2

Who am I? This is a question that I should ask myself everyday. It's a question that helps me to
evaluate my life, and what it means to me. In order to complete this personal evaluation, I will split
my life into three categories: spiritual, mental, and my view of life.
I would consider myself a very spiritual person. Both my parents were raised as strong
Christians, and I've been brought up the same way. In my younger years, religion was a significant
part of my life. It has been the foundation to which I've based my morals. However, after High School
my spiritual life has changed dramatically. I feel more independent as a Christian, and can explore
my own beliefs without feeling pressure from others within the church. My independence has driven
me to study different religious views on such topics as creation, evolution, and interpretations of the
Bible. My beliefs still remain the same, but I have become more open minded to other views. I am
able to listen to others, and understand what they are trying to explain. My independence as a
Christian has helped me to improve my education and broaden my view of other opinions.
I am the type of person who likes to walk the walk, and take action in my life. I look at life,
especially at this age, as a time to experience new things. A time to get away from the same
everyday routine, and enjoy the short time we have on earth. I am the type of person who likes to set
goals. Whether it's to run my own business someday, or just to bring a friend back to church. Some
of my goals may seem unrealistic, but it will always give me something to aim for.
If I could describe myself in two words, it would be dedicated and relaxed. Dedication is a
very important part in my life. I believe that being dedicated helps to employ good work ethics in
people, which is something this world is lacking at times. I've spent my whole life living and working
o

Who am I? At first glance, it’s a simple looking question and seems equally simple to answer. Most
often, I’ll start answering this question by listing off things about myself – my age, what I do for a
living, how many children I have, and so on. But do those things truly define who I am? What about
my hobbies, interests and personality? Once I started thinking about this ‘simple’ question a little
more, I quickly realized, it’s a lot more complicated than I thought – and I found it to be a difficult one
to answer.

See, who I am can also depend on where I am, what I’m doing, who I’m with, among other things.
Who I am is always changing in some ways. Some people will never see certain sides of me, but
each of the many sides of my character make up who I am. In some situations, and with certain
people, I’m totally outgoing, but pair me up with different people and I’m shy as a mouse. Those
people who’ve only seen my shy side would never believe that ‘who I am’ is someone who can belt
out Miley Cyrus’ ‘Party In the U.S.A’ at Saturday night karaoke like no one’s business!

But there are also, I believe, the fundamental things in our character that truly define us that will
never change, no matter how old we get, or who we’re with. I am someone who believes that
everyone should live their lives – as long as they aren’t hurting anyone else – doing whatever makes
them happy. I’ve never, and will never, push my own personal beliefs on anyone. And, even when I
don’t see eye-to-eye with someone else on a topic, I realize that it’s not my place to impose what I
believe in their life.

So maybe that’s who I am? But that can’t be it, right? There’s got to be more to me than just my
‘ability’ to leave other people alone, doesn’t there?

In reality, it’s a complex question to answer. And, I could answer as truthfully and thoroughly as I
possibly could today, but by tomorrow, that answer could be totally different. I’ve heard so many
stories of individuals who ‘became different people’ after a life-altering event – birth of a child, a
loved one dying or a close-call for themselves. Experience can change everything, and often does. I
know for myself, I’m not the same person I was when I was a teenager, or even in my 20’s or 30’s –
not in every single way, at least!

Although we often feel like who we are is largely ‘decided’ and defined by others and how they view
us, we are the only person who is with ourselves at every moment of our lives from when we’re born
to our death. I am the only person experiencing this completely unique perspective of being me. It’s
also been said before that who you are when no one is watching will truly define who you are as a
person. So, it’s really up to each person to recognize who they are when there are no eyes on them,
and create their own definition.

Who I am is an always-changing, learning and evolving person. I’m willing to learn from my
experiences, apply them to my life and hope that they make me a better person. And, if I can help do
the same in someone else’s life, that just adds so much happiness to who I am as a person involved
in their life. No, not everyone I know will see my best Miley Cyrus impression, but maybe that’s not
the side of who I am that they need to see.

Chapter 3
Reflection and Journal Writing
Write a short life script or your model of a balanced life. Design your own holistic development plan
for your personal and career growth that takes into account all the aspects of self.

Chapter 3
Being a teenager is hard,(or smth like teenage years are blah blah) and also being a student. Having
a balanced life is quite hard to achieve.
Most of us get reminded of the need for life balance when we suddenly discover how out of
whack our lives have become. Too much focus on one thing (health issues, work issues,
romance issues, financial issues); other matters drop to the bottom of the list. We haven’t
hugged the kids in three days, or balanced our checkbook in three months, or read a good novel
in three years. Priorities we value disappear from our radar because other priorities, also
valued, sometimes tragically compelling, fill our entire bandwidth.

Being 16, I am still early in my teen years. As a teenager, my mind is most impressionable and
vulnerable at this time. I try to make the right decisions, and learn from the wrong ones. It has
been very hard to be a teenager. I regret what I've done, and regret what I haven't done. This is
the time in my life when I am trying to figure out who I really am, why I am here, and trying to
understand what the world is like.My scathing at times, and constructive at other times teen life
began when I was thirteen.

People who are nostalgic about childhood, were obviously never

children. Few people can remember the truth about adolescence. Their
minds "censor" their memories; and have them believe that being a
teenager was was one big party, free of cares and responsibilities. Well
let me say this, you couldnOt be more wrong if you had a lobotomy.
There aren't that many adults around who realise what adolescence
was really like. The anguish, the fear, the anxiety, the stress. People
don't remember those problems because they want to forget them.

The truth of the matter is, is that being a teenager is hard, right from the
beginning, and it doesn't get any easier. We are such easy prey for big
name companies who advertise using the pressure …

A young person is like fire. With direction and guidance, he or she can change
the very shape of the world. Without direction, the fires of youth are wasted at
best, while at worst, they can become a dangerous, destructive force. To lead a
meaningful life means harnessing the fires of youth; but first we must understand
the purpose of youth itself.
What most young people are searching for is a meaningful cause. They are overflowing
with a mixture of adrenaline and confidence — "I want to change the way the world
works," teenagers often think. "I can change the world." Adults, burdened with the
pressures of everyday life, convince themselves that the world just is the way it is, but
young people cannot tolerate such resignation. This is the constant conflict between the
two groups: young people abhor the status quo, while adults' lives revolve around it.

Many adults simply write off the teenage years as a rebellious period that a person must
simply outlast. Young people, meanwhile, often think that adults have forgotten how to
appreciate the very meaning and thrill of life. Youths are rebellious, and adults see the
rebellion as one step shy of a crime.

But rebellion is not the crime; the crime occurs when the rebellion has no healthy outlet.
Rebellion, in fact, can be the healthiest thing for a human being — a pure energy that
inspires a person to not give up easily, to refuse to tolerate injustice, to not go along
with an idea just because everyone else is thinking it. The worst thing we can do with a
young person's spiritual or psychological energy is to bottle it up; in fact, we must do
everything we can to tap this energy, to focus it, and channel it properly.

To satisfy the needs of our teenagers in today's society, we must first recognize that
their restlessness and hunger for meaning is not material but spiritual in nature, and that
only spirituality can feed spiritual hunger.

To fight a spiritual war, they must be equipped with spiritual weapons. No matter how
far a young person has wandered, he has a soul and a distinct mission from G-d. This is
the first lesson that young people must learn — that their lives include a higher purpose,
that they must use their youthful energy for good and moral purposes.
The fire of youth must be used not just to build careers but to build homes and
communities based on love and giving. It is the responsibility of adults to provide young
people with a blueprint, a spiritual guide to life — which consists of G-d's word and His
instructions of how to best lead a meaningful life

So we must say to our young men and women: "You are as alive as fire. If you
complement your flame of youth with a sense of focus and urgency, you have the power
to move worlds."

When was the last time you had someone that you were able to have a heart-to-heart
talk with about the real issues of life? A talk about your personal issues, about our place
in the world and what we are supposed to do with our lives. A talk that honestly looked
at pain and failure.

It is critical that you find someone who you can talk to, a mentor to trust, who will
appreciate your strengths and potential and can help motivate you to achieve your
dreams.

We all must sit down calmly with our families, with our young people, and talk about our
lives and aspirations.

For such communication to be effective, it must be sincere and it must be regular; it

cannot surface only in times of crisis. Instead of only relaxing all weekend, designate an
hour or two just to speak or take a walk together. Talk about values, about the difficult
decisions that any young person must face. Talk about G-d, about morality, about how
pure intellect is limited unless it is supported by a system of higher values. Talk about
charity, about selflessness, about why we are here and where we are headed.

Should we extinguish the fires of youth because of their potency? Never! We should
constantly encourage our young people: "You are our hope, our most precious natural
resource."
One minute a teen seems interested in a new sport, topic in school, or type of music, only to

completely shift gears the next. Constantly exposed to new ideas, social situations, and people,

teenagers work to develop their personalities and interests during this time of great change.

Coping with the complex and diverse challenges of everyday life, which is not an easy
task, can upset the balance and harmony we seek. Many good people are trying very
hard to maintain balance, but they sometimes feel overwhelmed and defeated.

I have a few suggestions that I hope will be valuable to those of you concerned with
balancing life’s demands. These suggestions are very basic; their concepts can easily be
overlooked if you are not careful. You will need a strong commitment and personal
discipline to incorporate them into your life.

1. Establish Priorities
Think about your life and set your priorities. Find some quiet time regularly to think
deeply about where you are going and what you will need to do to get there. Jesus, our
exemplar, often “withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed” (Luke 5:16). We
need to do the same thing occasionally to rejuvenate ourselves spiritually as the Savior
did.
Write down the tasks you would like to accomplish each day. Keep foremost in mind the
sacred covenants you have made with the Lord as you write down your daily schedules.

You will need a strong commitment and personal discipline to

incorporate these suggestions into your life.
2. Set Attainable Goals
Set short-term goals that you can reach. Set goals that are well balanced—not too many
nor too few and not too high nor too low. Write down your attainable goals and work on
them according to their importance. Pray for divine guidance in your goal setting.

3. Budget Wisely
Everyone faces financial challenges in life. Through wise budgeting, control your real
needs and measure them carefully against your many wants in life. The prophet Jacob
said to his people: “Wherefore, do not spend money for that which is of no worth, nor
your labor for that which cannot satisfy” (2 Nephi 9:51).
Remember to always pay a full tithing.

4. Build Relationships

Stay close to your parents, relatives, and friends. They will help you keep a balance in
your life. Build relationships with your family and friends through open and honest
communication.

Good family relationships can be maintained through gentle, loving, thoughtful

communication. Remember that often a glance, a wink, a nod, or a touch will say more
than words. A sense of humor and good listening are also vital parts of good
communication.

5. Study the Scriptures

Search the scriptures. They offer one of the best sources we have to keep in touch with
the Spirit of the Lord. One of the ways I have gained my sure knowledge that Jesus is the
Christ is through my study of the scriptures. Presidents Ezra Taft Benson (1899–1994)
and Gordon B. Hinckley (1910–2008) called upon members of the Church to make the
study of the Book of Mormon a daily habit and a lifetime pursuit.

The Apostle Paul’s advice to Timothy is good counsel for each of us. He wrote, “All
scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16).
6. Take Care of Yourself

Many people, including me, have difficulty finding the time for sufficient rest, exercise,
and relaxation. We must schedule time on our daily calendars for these activities if we
are to enjoy a healthy and balanced life. Good physical appearance enhances our dignity
and self-respect.

7. Live the Gospel

The prophets have taught repeatedly that families should teach one another the gospel,
preferably in a weekly family home evening. This family practice, if we are not very
careful, can slowly drift away from us. We must not lose this special opportunity to
“teach one another the doctrine of the kingdom” (D&C 88:77), which will lead families
to eternal life.
Do the basic things and, before you realize it, your life will be full
of spiritual understanding that will confirm to you that your
Heavenly Father loves you.
Satan is always working to destroy our testimonies, but he will not have the power to
tempt or disturb us beyond our strength to resist when we are studying the gospel and
living its commandments.

8. Pray Often
My last suggestion is to pray often as individuals and as families. You can know the right
decisions to make each day through constant, sincere prayer.

The prophet Alma summarized the importance of prayer in these words: “Humble
yourselves before the Lord, and call on his holy name, and watch and pray continually,
that ye may not be tempted above that which ye can bear, and thus be led by the Holy
Spirit, becoming humble, meek, submissive, patient, full of love and all long-suffering”
(Alma 13:28). When I am in tune spiritually, I find that I can balance everything in my
life much more easily.
Stay Focused and Do Your Best

Other suggestions could be added to these. However, I believe that when we focus on a
few basic objectives, we are more likely to be able to manage the many demands that life
makes on us. Remember, too much of anything in life can throw us off balance. At the
same time, too little of the important things can do the same thing. King Benjamin
counseled “that all these things [be] done in wisdom and order” (Mosiah 4:27).
Often the lack of clear direction and goals can waste our time and energy and contribute
to imbalance in our lives. A life that gets out of balance is much like a car tire that is out
of balance. It will make the operation of the car rough and unsafe. Tires in perfect
balance can give a smooth and comfortable ride. So it is with life. The ride through
mortality can be smoother for us when we strive to stay in balance. Our main goal
should be to seek “immortality and eternal life” (Moses 1:39). With this as our goal, why
not eliminate from our lives the things that clamor for and consume our thoughts,
feelings, and energies without contributing to our reaching that goal?
Not long ago, one of my children said, “Dad, sometimes I wonder if I will ever make it.”
The answer I gave to her is the same as I would give to you. Just do the very best you can
each day. Do the basic things and, before you realize it, your life will be full of spiritual
understanding that will confirm to you that your Heavenly Father loves you. When a
person knows this, then life will be full of purpose and meaning, making balance easier
to maintain.