One of the things that has held me back from any meaningful self-analysis is my neurosis regarding "expert opinion." On the one hand, I love ideas; new, interesting, well-phrased ideas excite me like little else. On the other hand, I always doubt the veracity (or at least the supremacy) of anything subjective that is presented to me as the truth. In other words: how do I know it's ACTUALLY right, and not just what I happen to be reading at the time?
Ultimately, that conflict can never truly be resolved, so I either have to move on regardless of that doubt or just give up. I think I've been giving up, and that hasn't gotten me to where I want to be, so I now choose to just trust my instincts. I will start with two books:
"Now, Discover Your Strengths" (and StrengthsFinder 2.0) - by Marcus Buckingham and Donald Clifton, and
"The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" by Stephen Covey
…and already I feel ridiculous. Shouldn't I already know my strengths? Aren't there higher aspirations than "effective?" Well, I chose these books based on a number of factors, including the depth of their research, how well they have been received (and for how long), and whether their messages resonated with me personally. Both of these books feel true to me, and that's as good a place to start as any.
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