Psychological knowledge and methods can help us better understand ourselves.

Self-knowledge can increase our effectiveness in life.

Three dimensions characterize approaches to life: happiness, meaning, and psychological richness.

In the 5th century BCE, the Temple of Apollo in Delphi, a province of Greece, bore this inscription: “Know thyself.” Twenty-five centuries later, it remains important advice. In his leadership classic, On Becoming a Leader, Warren Bennis stated that knowing oneself “is still the most difficult task any of us faces.” I agree. We inhabit many roles in our lives; we present different faces. How do we truly know ourselves?

Psychology provides many tools to help us, including, as needed, a variety of therapies. As a cadet at the USAF Academy, my classmates and I were required to have a talk session with a psychologist so that, as future leaders, we would understand the help and benefit psychologists can provide. For insights into one’s personality, the Big Five Personality Theory is excellent. Jennifer Fayard’s recent Psychology Today blog is a good place to start; it also includes a link to a........

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