Self-Discovery Journey: 17 Best Ways to Get Started

Do you feel disconnected between how you show up in the world and your inner experiences? And do you struggle to find out who you are and what you’re meant to do in this world?

You’re not alone.

For the longest time, I felt the same way.

And I was looking externally for answers. I thought that getting rich, having a girlfriend, and accumulating more friends would make me happier.

But I was wrong.

Instead, I had to search within first. 

Embarking on a self-discovery journey provides answers.

Self-insight leads to clarity and inner harmony.

Your life’s quality increases when you align your actions with your personality, core values, needs, and strengths. Every aspect of your life becomes more meaningful when you pursue what matters most to you.

The self-discovery process is key to success and fulfillment.

So, let’s take a step back from the hustle and bustle of life. It’s time to explore your essence to unravel your most authentic self.

Let’s dive in!

• What is self-discovery?
• Why is it important to discover yourself?
• The 2-step self-discovery process
• How to start your self-discovery journey?

This post contains affiliate links, so if you buy something through my link, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Note that I only endorse products that I’ve personally bought and enjoyed

What is self-discovery?

Self-discovery is a lifelong process of learning who you are, what you want, and why it all matters to you.

This includes many aspects like your values, beliefs, desires, emotions, strengths, weaknesses, passions, purpose, and more.

But why care about self-discovery?

Why is it important to discover yourself?

The self-discovery journey leads to self-knowledge, self-acceptance, and a clearer understanding of your life’s path. And aligning your actions and behavior with your true self leads to more meaning, fulfillment, and joy.

Here’s why you should embark on self-exploration:

1. Authenticity: Discovering yourself reduces the need for external validation and leads to congruent decisions, actions, and behavior.
2. Self-awareness: Recognizing triggers and behavioral patterns allows you to respond to life’s challenges more effectively.
3. Personal growth: Self-discovery allows you to better navigate your strengths and weaknesses, enabling you to reach your full potential.
4. Fulfillment: Pursuing activities, relationships, and career paths that align with your passions and values increases life satisfaction.
5. Self-confidence: Unraveling your strengths, values, and passions fosters self-belief in your ability to navigate life’s challenges.
6. Purpose and meaning: Doing what matters most allows you to find deeper meaning in your actions and contributions.
7. Healthy relationships: Understanding your communication style, needs, and boundaries sets the basis for effective communication and better relationships.

Self-discovery enables you to reinvent yourself and live a more intentional life. Let’s find out how you can make it happen.

2-Step self-discovery process

There are 2 general steps to the self-discovery process:

1. Take action: Try something new and explore interests and ideas.
2. Self-reflection: Reflect on your actions, behavior, feelings, and emotions to learn about your needs, preferences, and styles. Here’s an extensive list of questions to ask yourself.

Repeating those two steps leads to deeper self-understanding.

And if you do something related to each step every week, just imagine how much you’ll learn about yourself over the course of a year.

Now, let’s uncover…

How to start your self-discovery journey?

Most people do one of three things:

• They take consistent action but rarely reflect.
• They reflect often but rarely try something new.
• Or they neither reflect nor take consistent action.

What most fail to realize is that self-discovery requires consistent action and continuous reflection. These two steps are essential if you want to discover yourself fast. 

The next section provides ideas. Develop good habits or a daily routine around a few of those items to promote consistency.

Now let’s get started:

#1: Map your archetype

Trying to be like someone else is a recipe for disaster. And exploring your inner world is the only way to live a truly fulfilling life. 

It took some time for me to understand that.

My extroverted friends got all the girls at school, whereas I struggled with introversion.

But being an introvert wasn’t my problem.

Instead, I was trying to be like my extroverted friends. I felt fake and inauthentic. And the girls smelled it from miles away.

I kept struggling with myself until I discovered my strengths as an introvert. Rather than trying to be the life of the party, I had to learn to be myself. And to have fun in my own way.

That’s sexy.

And not just in relationships – but in all areas of life.

You must understand who you are and what makes you tick to design your best life.

So what helped me to get unstuck after years of frustration? 

I learned about myself through the best personality tests. These insights changed everything. And that’s why they’re my most recommended tool for people who’re just starting their self-discovery journey.

Here are my favorite options from Truity:

• 16 Personalities Test
• Enneagram Test
• Big 5 Personality Test

Once you’ve mapped your personality traits, it’s time to…

#2: Discover your superpowers

You excel in life when you work from personal strengths.

Of course, you should upgrade any weaknesses that interfere with your work and personal life. But for the most part, you’ll experience more joy and achieve better results when you lead with your superpowers.

Here are some questions to find out what you’re good at:

• What do you happily spend money on?
• What did you achieve, and how?
• What provides you joy?
• What gives you energy?
• And what compliments do you get often?

Use these questions to brainstorm. In addition, you can conduct a personal SWOT analysis. And then supplement your findings with a strengths test to gain a different perspective, such as the HIGH5 Test.

#3: Unravel your personal core values

Your personal values serve as the governing rules of your life. 

You feel congruent when you make decisions and take actions that align with your core values. 

And you’ll feel disconnected when there’s a mismatch.

Mapping your values can explain your emotions, feelings, and behaviors in certain situations. It helps you navigate challenges. And it guides your decision-making processes.

Below are some questions to unravel your values:

• What do you value most in life?
• When do you feel happy and most fulfilled?
• What areas of your life do you value the most and why?
• Who inspires you, and which of their traits inspire you the most?
• Finally, select what resonates from this list of core values.

Brainstorm a list of all the values that come to mind. 

Then, delete the least important values until a top 10 remains. Finally, prioritize these 10 from high to low.

Consult your top three to five values often to live congruently.

#4: Make a list of interests

Unraveling your personality traits, strengths, and values is a great first step on your journey of self-discovery.

And I hope you did the exercises.

The next step is to list your interests. 

What would you like to explore?

Write down everything that comes to mind. 

This is your mini-bucket list, something to try at least once.

Here are some questions to inspire your list:

• What piques your interest already?
• What are potential passions you want to explore?
• What topics would you want to read a book about?
• What new skills do you want to learn?
• What outdoor activities do you want to try out?
• What sports have you never done before?
• What new hobbies would you like to explore?
• What instruments would you like to play?
• What places would you love to visit?

Trying new stuff makes life more fun. It also teaches you a ton about yourself. And you might just stumble upon a new passion or career path like me.

Once you’ve got an extensive list, it’s time to…

#5: Create personal quests

Personal quests are your life goals.

And perhaps you already set personal goals. But if not, pick the most appealing items from your list of interests.

What would you like to explore first?

For example, say you want to travel through South America for a few months. And you want to learn Spanish in the next 2 months.

And perhaps you want to find meaningful work after your travels. So you decide that you’ll spend 6 months learning a high-income skill when you get back.

Now, you’ve already got a year’s worth of personal quests.

Even if you’re unsure about your long-term plans, you should set short-term goals and get moving. 

That’s much better than dabbling or waiting around.

For starters, setting and achieving goals is a cure for boredom. But remember that taking action is what provides self-knowledge and insights, enabling you to set better and more meaningful goals.

Some questions to clarify your options:

• What skills would you like to master?
• What do you want to become an expert in?
• If money was no issue, what would you do?
• What would you like to achieve in life?
• How would you like to make a difference in the world?
• What experiences would you like to accumulate?
• What places would you like to travel to?
• And what does your ideal self look like?

Write down everything that comes to mind.

And don’t forget to…

#6: Embark on a solo adventure

Backpacking by myself through Australia was one of the greatest catalysts for self-exploration. 

Solo adventures accelerate personal growth, independence, and self-awareness. Besides learning about yourself, you’ll learn a lot about others and the world around you too.

Backpacking was the best decision I ever made.

But you don’t have to travel for months. 

Consider these solo adventures:

• Go on a hike by yourself
• Do a floatation tank session
• Go to a wellness center for the day
• Enjoy a holiday abroad by yourself
• Visit a silence retreat for a few days
• Make a little road trip by yourself
• Or travel alone for extended periods

Traveling alone can feel awkward and scary. But discomfort is okay. In fact, pursuing discomfort is the catalyst for personal growth. 

And there’s nothing wrong with a solo adventure. 

Quite the contrary.

You’ll unlock your greatness when you…

#7: Embrace solitude

There’s great power in silence.

But in a world that glorifies extroverted traits and constant connectivity, solitude may seem intimidating. 

Yet, moments of aloneness are essential to turn inward. Tune out of external distractions to deepen the connection with yourself. 

Solitude is the secret sauce to connect with your inner self.

Many successful people embrace periods of solitude for deep thinking and self-reflection. Think about Albert Einstein, Steve Jobs, Warren Buffett, J.K. Rowling, Mahatma Gandhi, and many more.

And there are many ways to embrace solitude.

Going on a solo adventure is an excellent option. But also consider the following practices and habits:

• Meditation
• Journaling
• Deep breathing
• Walking in nature
• Riding your bike
• Creative thinking
• Observing sunrise or sunset
• Engaging in creative acts
• Reflecting on your goals
• Disconnecting from technology

Schedule time for solitude. Although it may feel uncomfortable initially, exploring your inner world can lead to long-term success and happiness.

But you can also take a different approach and…

#8: Volunteer somewhere

Volunteering can lead to self-awareness while positively impacting others and the community. It exposes you to different perspectives and viewpoints you might never consider on your own. 

It also provides a sense of purpose. And you’ll undoubtedly meet some amazing people in the process.

Here are some volunteering ideas:

• Environmental conservation such as community clean-up projects. 
• Mentor or tutor (unprivileged) others and share your knowledge.
• Care for animals in need of love and attention in animal shelters.
• Help organize charity events, fundraisers, or community gatherings.
• Provide support and resources at homeless shelters.
• Organize or assist in creative workshops.
• Spend time with seniors at nursing homes.
• Volunteer at hospitals or healthcare centers.
• Get involved with organizations supporting social causes. 
• Join disaster relief teams or organizations to assist communities affected by natural disasters.

There are many more volunteering opportunities. Perhaps your work has connections to volunteering organizations too.

Try it out and reflect on your experience.

#9: Start a writing practice

Something happens in the brain when we write. 

The art of writing stuff down provides greater clarity – especially when you write with pen and paper. Having a writing practice is a transformative way to promote self-discovery for many people. 

And yet again, there are many different options:

• Keep a journal to explore your thoughts, fears, and reflections. 
• Daily goal-setting to create clarity and maintain focus.
• Keep a gratitude journal to appreciate the little things in life.
• Try creative writing, such as poetry, short stories, or fiction.
• Write letters to yourself, others, or your future self.
• Use mind-mapping techniques to organize thoughts and ideas.
• Compose a personal manifesto that outlines your core principles.
• Reflect on significant events or milestones in your life.
• Rewrite your story by crafting the perfect next chapter of your life.
• Write Morning Pages, a concept from The Artist’s Way. Write three pages of free-flowing thoughts every morning.

Putting thoughts into words clarifies your emotions, feelings, beliefs, needs, goals, and aspirations.

If you need some help, you can…

#10: Use self-reflection cards

Do you lack the inspiration to sit down and journal? If so, you might enjoy daily journaling prompts to get you started. Use these reflection cards to get started, for example.

Grab a new card each day and answer the question.

You can answer it out loud. 

But again, there’s magic in writing stuff down. Writing slows your thought process, forcing you to sit with each thought a little longer.

These unique questions help you to think about different aspects of your life. And they also encourage you to ask the hard questions.

So definitely try this tool on your journey of self-discovery.

And for the dreamers…

#11: Visualize your perfect life

Visualization is a great technique to manifest success and abundance.

But it’s also very effective to explore opportunities.

Lay down and close your eyes for the next 5-15 minutes. Imagine yourself achieving and having everything your heart desires. 

• What do you see? 
• How do you feel?
• And who are you with?

Then imagine that you did everything there was to do, bought everything you wanted to buy, and visited all the places you wanted to see. 

What would you do next?

Exploring your ideal life is fun, fosters a positive mental attitude, and ignites a greater sense of purpose beyond the superficial stuff.

Another idea is to go back in time and…

#12: Dig into your childhood

Your past is a goldmine for self-discovery.

It holds valuable clues to the building blocks of your identity. 

Childhood memories, experiences, and influences shape who we become as adults. And delving into your past can reveal patterns, beliefs, and values that still influence you today. 

Here’s how to revisit your earlier life:

• Gather memory triggers such as items, photographs, old diaries, or any objects that remind you of your childhood.
• Begin with your earliest memories and gradually work your way through various stages of childhood. Remember moments of joy, challenges, fears, and significant events.
• Reflect on your emotions as you recall past experiences. They’re powerful indicators of what mattered to you during those times.
• Identify influential people throughout your life and consider how they shaped your thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors.
• Identify patterns in your thoughts and beliefs. And evaluate whether they still influence your actions and decisions today.
• Journal your discoveries to record insights and realizations.

Remember that personal growth and self-discovery is the goal of exploring your childhood memories. So, make sure you celebrate positive memories and learn from any challenges.

This practice may uncover the roots of many beliefs and behaviors.

Alternatively, try…

#13: Walking meditation

Walking through nature is one of my favorite ways to become self-aware.

And I occasionally plan a long hike to connect with myself.

I’ll grab a bag, pen, and my favorite self-help journal. And I’ll pack some of my favorite snacks and drinks. Then, I’ll go far out to explore a new place on foot. 

I usually split my long walk into sessions:

• Listening to podcasts
• Listening to music
• Immersing myself in nature
• Brainstorming new ideas
• And exploring my thoughts

Regardless of what I’m doing, thoughts and ideas always arise. And when they do, I’ll explore them or write them down to explore later. 

Feel free to give your spin to it.

But be mindful of what you do during your walk. If you listen to podcasts 100% of the time, you still distract yourself from your inner voice.

#14: Learn new skills

Skill development is a fantastic way to make yourself more valuable and attractive to the marketplace. And the process also unlocks self-insights and new possibilities.

For example, I started my blog to crystalize my thoughts and deepen my personal growth journey. But blogging also taught me more about writing, marketing, web development, and search engine optimization (SEO).

Although I didn’t know about SEO before, I found it fascinating. 

So I quit my finance career to pursue an internship with my new long-term goal to become an SEO consultant.

And today, I’m a freelance SEO specialist. I love what I do and I’ve the freedom I always desired to work from anywhere.

All because I decided to start blogging.

Where can you start?

Here is some inspiration:

• Brainstorm skills you already want to learn more about.
• Browse the catalog of Udemy to explore interesting skills.
• Explore high-income skills you can learn from home.
• Read my list of new skills to learn at home.
• Learn a new language with Rocket Languages.
• Start a personal project, like a blog, podcast, or YouTube channel.
• View the book categories on Amazon and dive into subcategories to discover new topics.

Schedule time in your week to learn a new skill or upgrade existing ones if you want to unlock your wildest dreams and aspirations.

#15: Try something new – and do so often

When was the last time you did something new?

We often are too busy or scared to try new things. And we fail to see the immense value of engaging in novel experiences.

But there are many benefits of stepping out of your comfort zone and seeking new experiences. 

It’ll improve your confidence, creativity, and resilience. 

And it’ll make your life much more exciting and interesting.

Finally, it boosts self-awareness.

So challenge yourself to engage in novel activities regularly.

In your downtime, you can use the following…

#16: Self-discovery questions to raise self-awareness

Our greatest gift is to wonder.

And self-questioning is an effective tool to become curious about your thoughts, feelings, needs, values, goals, and aspirations.

Here’s a list of questions to ask yourself:

• How am I living in alignment with my core values?
• What currently brings me the most joy and fulfillment?
• What are the activities or environments that drain my energy?
• How do I define success and happiness?
• What are my biggest fears, and how do they hold me back?
• What are the greatest obstacles that keep me from my goals?
• Is there anything I should change about my current situation?
• What do I like best about myself and my situation?
• How did I cope with recent stress and challenges?
• What activities or hobbies make me lose track of time?
• What are some self-limiting beliefs I hold about myself?
• How did I handle criticism and feedback from others?
• What are patterns or recurring themes in my daily life?
• What are my most recent accomplishments?
• How do I want others to see me?
• Which relationships do I want to invest more time in?
• What are the things I need to let go of to move forward?
• What are some past experiences that shaped who I am?
• How do I define my identity and sense of self?
• What do I want to learn or explore more in life?
• What kind of legacy do I want to leave behind?
• How do I ensure consistent personal growth?
• What are my favorite ways to express creativity?
• What lessons did I learn last week?
• How did I recently take care of my physical, emotional, and mental well-being?

Frequently asking yourself these self-discovery questions fosters self-awareness, continuous self-improvement, and self-esteem.

#17: Accept yourself fully

Accepting yourself is crucial for well-being, success, and happiness.

And here’s how you can cultivate self-acceptance:

• Treat yourself like a good friend in distress.
• Identify and challenge negative self-limiting beliefs. Replace them with positive affirmations and constructive statements.
• Acknowledge and celebrate your successes, no matter how small.
• Strive for progress, not perfection.
• Set realistic goals to gain momentum.
• Express yourself authentically through activities you enjoy.
• Forgive yourself for past mistakes and learn from them instead.
• Spend more time around people who support and uplift you, rather than those who bring you down.
• Seek support if you struggle to accept yourself. A therapist can guide you through the process and provide a fresh perspective.

Recognize that accepting yourself is an ongoing process. 

And it’s normal to have ups and downs along the way. 

So stay patient and self-compassionate. 

What’s next?

The process of self-discovery is transformative and unlocks authenticity, inner harmony, and personal fulfillment. 

Gaining deeper insights into your values, desires, and beliefs empowers you to make better decisions. And it’ll open doors to better opportunities, meaningful relationships, and a more purposeful life.

Key takeaways:

• Self-discovery involves exploring your personality traits, strengths, values, desires, interests, purpose, feelings, emotions, and more.
• Take consistent action and try novel things often to expand your comfort zone and uncover what you like and dislike.
• Self-reflect often and embrace periods of solitude.

Challenge: I encourage people who are just starting to take a personality test. And if you already did then challenge yourself to do something new this week.

Also, check out the following resources to dive deeper into self-discovery and personal development:

• The best guided journals
• The best personality tests
• The best books on self-awareness
• The best books on finding your life’s purpose

Finally, are you ready to embark on a journey of self-discovery and unlock your true potential? Sign up for weekly insights for personal growth and living an authentic and meaningful life!