“Do you know who you are?” Do you get asked that question often? Have you been asked that question before? Did you give an astounding YES, I know who I am? Or did you stagger your words? How did the question make you feel? More so, how did your response, or lack thereof, make you feel?

Here is my claim to knowing one’s self: you know who you are better than anyone, even if you are struggling with the complete definition at this time. Even if you change your likes and dislikes 5 million times a day. Even if you change your definition constantly. Even if you question if you do know who you truly are.

From my journey in finding my true self, I realized that I do know myself. I know myself pretty damn well. I like the journey though, and I plan on continuing learning more about myself, but I am complex, as are you, and those discoveries will be constant as you are a constantly growing person. You do not stay stagnant; therefore, change occurs. Change is a part of who you are, even if you don’t know how you will change tomorrow.

I used to stammer on my answer of who I truly am, but in looking back, there were confusing times and awkward decisions made, or terrible things happening to me and around me, but at my core, I always knew who I was. Even if someone else tried to take that self from me, I still knew who I was and who I wanted to be.

You do too. I promise you do.

Even if you feel like you have no clue. Maybe that is part of who you are, not knowing or being able to pinpoint the specifics, but think about it. How are you day in and day out? What is something you have always disliked or liked? Do you change often? Are you comfortable in a routine? These things can define you today or they could define you tomorrow.

The point? It doesn’t matter. You are fighting a battle that you will never win if you continuously feel you have to know yourself. Because you already do! Why wouldn’t you know yourself? Accept that you are complex, ever changing, loving or crazy. Accept that mental health might be an issue, or fear runs your life. These things do not mean you don’t know who you are; they just mean you struggle like everyone else.

I am sharing this with you because I too struggled with trying to define myself, but through all the self-help books I’ve read, the podcasts I listen to, and the open-mind I try to have all day every day, I realized I do know myself. Now trying to love yourself is another journey, but you’ve got knowing yourself in the bag.

Sit and think for just a couple of minutes. Imagine what it would feel like to accept that you do know who you are. Next time someone asks, “do you know who you are,” you can tell them yes, I do. Because you do!