Over 300 years ago, a maverick Spanish cleric named El Padre Baltazar wrote a book entitled The Art of Worldly Wisdom. Today, his work is read by those aspiring for personal and professional success. It contains over 300 tips for learning how to deal successfully with others - and most especially, with oneself.
Consider maxim number 7: Don't outshine your boss. Or maxim number 172: Don't compete with someone who has nothing to lose. Or maxim number 265: Get those who depend on you into tough situations. But one of the best words are from maxim 89: Know yourself: your character, intellect, judgment and emotions. You cannot master yourself if you do not understand yourself. There are mirrors for the face, but the only mirror for the spirit is wise self-reflection.
How do you achieve self-mastery? The first step, as Baltazar says, is to know yourself. When you understand yourself thoroughly, you can see where your strengths and weaknesses lie. You gain a vision of who you can be. Based on that vision, you gain the confidence to set goals and make commitments. This becomes your roadmap to success. And it all starts with knowing yourself.