Ask Lemmy

I don't think we ever really know our own traits. We have psychological defense mechanisms that prevent us from thinking that we're the problem.

Awareness helps. If you are reflecting and thinking about how could I have dealt with this situation better? You may be able to find toxic patterns in your own behavior that you previously wrote off as "People always overreact when I tell them to do things!"

A good place to start is the old saying "if you ran into one asshole, he's probably an asshole, if EVERYONE is an asshole, you're probably the asshole."

I am fully and wholly believing that basically no one is FULLY self-aware. We can be aware of our follies and wrinkles and foibles all day, but I guarantee you no one has an absolutely correct view of themselves. Ironically, the most self-aware people probably generally have a worse view of themselves than reality for the simple fact that the ones questioning themselves are on the minority side of reality.

In a more literal sense, I guarantee you humans are on the "ignorant" side of reality given that even wave/partical duality is so "unnatural" seeming let alone the concepts of non-locality or what 3+1 dimensions mean...

I feel you can be somewhat aware of your own beauty in that many people typical find partners that have a similar level of attractiveness to themselves.

Also, I’ve heard there are some narcissists that are aware of their narcissism. That doesn’t necessarily mean they are trying to subvert it though.

I think you can have a rough idea of your own intelligence in contrast of others, at least within a defined scope. But there are many different types of intelligences out there so it’s a bit of a spectrum. Especially comparing things like textbook knowledge of the field, on the job experience, interdepartmental knowledge, and emotional intelligence.

I don't have a direct answer for you, but this sort of abstract thought is one of my favorite subjects for poetry. So I'm gonna share one on the topic. Sorry lol

Definition and Form

Are we truly only beauteous when we gaze upon the same?

Does a force then oust its element when estranged from former names?

What, at root, is virtue most true, if not the definitive game?

I don't honestly believe it is possible to ever truly "know yourself", so I would say all traits are unknowable.

The reason I say this is because one doesn't ever know how they will react in any given situation until it happens. One can train, one can prepare, but until they are in an exact situation with exact circumstances one cannot declare with certainty what they will do.

I do not believe in free will as well, so that is another point against "knowing yourself" for me as all "you" are is an observer to the experiences that aren't controllable in the first place.

That is not to say that one cannot predict with some accuracy how they will behave, but with so many unknown factors involved with simply existing (like the fact that we forget things that happened and remember things that didn't; Can be impacted by unknown emotional states; etc), I do not believe anyone can be certain of themselves even with detailed notes and 3rd party help.

Is the "soul" an ephemeral entity that becomes detached and goes somewhere else, or is it a byproduct of our brains and it dies with us. I believe the second one is much, much more likely. But there's no way to know until I finally die. I really hope I'm right, it eternity sounds like its own kind of hell no matter where you are.