In all one's lifetime it is oneself that one spends the most time being with or dealing with. But it is1oneself that one has the least understanding of. When you are going upwards in life you tend to overestimate yourself. It seems that everything you seek for is within your2. When you are going downhill you tend to underestimate yourself.
To get a thorough understanding of oneself is to gain a correct view of oneself and be a realist-aware of both one's3and weaknesses. You may4hopefully to the future but be sure not to5 too much, for ideals can never be fully realized. You may be6to meet challenges but it should be clear to you7to direct your efforts. That's to say, so long as you have a perfect8of yourself, there won't be difficulties you can't overcome.
To get a thorough understanding of oneself needs self-appreciation. Whether you think you are a towering tree or a blade of grass, a high mountain or a small stone, you represent a state of nature that has its own reason of9. If you earnestly admire yourself you'll have a real sense of self-appreciation, which will give you confidence.10 you gain full confidence in yourself, you'll be enabled to fight and overcome any difficulty.
To get a thorough understanding of oneself also requires doing oneself a favor when it's needed. In time of anger, do yourself a favor by giving an outlet to it in a quiet place so that you won't be hurt by its flames; in time of sadness, do yourself a favor by11it with your friends so as to change a gloomy mood into a cheerful one; in time of tiredness, do yourself a favor by getting a good sleep or taking some stimulant. Show yourself loving concern about your health and daily life.12you know perfectly well when and how to do yourself a favor, you won't be confident and ready enough to13 the attack of illness. As you are aware, what a person physically has is but a human body that's vulnerable when14to the elements. So if you fall ill, it's up to you to take a good care of yourself.
In a word, to get a thorough understanding of oneself is to get a full15of one's life. Then one will find one's life full of color and flavor.
