The truth is belonging starts with self-acceptance. your level of belonging, in fact, can never be greater than your level of self-acceptance because believing that you're enough is what gives you courage to be authentic, vulnerable, and imperfect. -Brene Brown

One of the quickest ways to be a little happier is learning about yourself. When you know why you like the things you like, feel the way you feel, or act the way you act, it allows you to recognize that other people in your life are not exactly the same as you.Being a student of yourself can start with simple questions like:Am I a morning person or a night person?Do you prefer alone time or are you more of a social butterfly?To reduce alcohol consumption do you need to abstain entirely or are you able to control your impulses if you just drink moderately?Are you better at starting projects than you are at finishing them?These questions allow you to see why relationships at work or at home can become difficult if we assume everyone is like us. My husband likes to be held accountable. He knows this about himself and knows that if he has an accountability partner he is more likely to stay on task. I am the exact opposite. When I say I will do something, it will get done. If you remind me I feel like you don't trust me to take care of things. If we each assumed we were the same as the other, life could get pretty frustrating around our house.I have become a "questionnaire junkie" and whether it's learning my Meyers Briggs type (ENFP), my Enneagram (7), my Dosha (I am a rare tri-doshic) or my habit forming tendancies (Upholder) I can't get enough understanding of why I am all the things I am.Why is knowing yourself important? Self-confidence increases with self-awareness. This boosts happiness.Knowing yourself also helps you to examine your beliefs to see if they align with who you are. As a child, our beliefs come from parents, teachers, peers, and the media. When we stop and examine the source we quite often see the disparity between who we are and what we believe.This comes in the form of limiting beliefs like

• "I'm not thin enough"
• "I'm not smart enough"
• "No one listens to me"
• "Big girls don't cry."
• "People never change."

As you expose the fallacy of these beliefs you expand your awareness and become more of who you really are; your true self.It's not too late to sign up for Deepak Chopra & Oprah Winfrey's 21 Day Meditation on Belief

Want your own personal guide on your journey to self-knowledge? I currently have 2 local coaching spaces and 1 online space available.Or are you more self-directed? Check out these books for great ideas and inspiration.