The Importance of Knowing Yourself and How It All Connects Back to Mental and Physical Health
Honor Tremain is an award-winning longevity nutritionist, author, and journalist whose journey into nutrition began with a personal health crisis. Determined to reclaim her life, she completed qualifications in nutrition, eventually healing herself and going on to complete a Bachelor of Science degree.
Do you know yourself? Like, really, truly know who you are? What makes you tick? What do you love? What moves and inspires you? What’s at your core? What hidden talents and treasures are lying within you, longing to come out?
Are you allowed to be any of that? Do you let yourself? Do others? What if I told you that not knowing yourself could be the starting point for both mental and physical illness?
Before now, the most intelligent and enlightened scientists and ancient sages encouraged us to look within and connect with ourselves in order not only to be happier and live well, but also to understand the mysteries of the universe.
“To know thyself is the beginning of Wisdom.” – Socrates
“Man (woman), know thyself. Then thou shalt know the Universe and God.” – Pythagoras
“Whoso knoweth himself, knows thy Lord.” – Ancient Sufi saying
Firstly, let’s look at why we don’t know ourselves anymore. Today, it’s more normal not to know yourself because it’s almost celebrated as culturally ideal to be too busy to have time to connect within. Then there is the constant barrage from your phone, social media, ads, online content, schools, and basically everywhere, showing us the supposedly perfect life, the perfect body, and the perfect way to be liked, popular, or even just accepted.
Many try, and in so doing, let go of who they really are and become unavoidably driven towards who they’re not instead, becoming anxious, depressed, obsessed, workaholics, and sometimes alcoholics, in a desperate bid to achieve this pretend life that keeps being presented as what we should want, nay, what we need to be in order to be acceptable. But in so doing, we lose connection and trust with that voice within us, that quieter voice, the real us.
So right now, human evolution is being dragged away from inner wisdom and towards the most exterior, in a backward search for inner identity through outer ‘things’, looks, brands, clothes, shoes, money, cars, how many followers one has on socials, and what version of phone is in your hand.
All the while, mental illness and chronic disease are skyrocketing. Is it any wonder? I spoke with Australian clinical psychologist Dr. Mataji Kennedy about this troubling conundrum.
“Happiness, contentment and a happy life are essentially tied to getting to know yourself. It’s foundational and vital to all people,” says Dr. Kennedy, who sees multiple clients disconnected from who they are and who often present with varying levels of anxiety, panic attacks and, interestingly, chronic illnesses.
Dr. Kennedy says that knowing yourself, trusting yourself, and loving, cherishing, and accepting yourself for who you are, while treating your children, family, and others with that same respect, are very helpful steps towards wellness for everyone on all levels.
“Get curious, listen, and be kind. It’s okay if you don’t have all the answers. It’s also okay if you’re not perfect. You’re not meant to be. So often, we feel pressured to know everything and get it right all the time. But that’s an illusion society and culture place on us. Let go of old ideas and assumptions that have held you prisoner for so long, and look at life and your options not as black and white, but as an experimental, moving colour wheel of possibilities, where you can try new things in different ways.
“Life and people are dynamic and ever evolving. Sometimes, messy is okay. Acceptance, listening, observing, and letting yourself, your friends, your family, and others ‘just be’ are more enriching to health and wellbeing and do more to lower anxiety and depression for all of you than trying to force yourself or others to be something they’re not,” says Dr. Kennedy.
So, it seems that putting aside time for self-exploration and reconnection with your true self, and having a safe space to allow yourself to learn who you really are with acceptance and respect, are very simple but vital elements at the core of where health and happiness can bloom. These steps offer more chances of a happier, healthier, anxiety- and illness-free future, not only for yourself but also for those around you.
Have the courage to look within and find your perfectly imperfect yet beautiful and unique self. Let your true, glorious being shine through and guide you, even if it’s a bit messy or not what you see on social media.
Listen to your heart and gut again, two organs with their own nervous systems that science is discovering can potentially think and feel before your head brain does (more on this in upcoming articles).
For in these seemingly simple words, “Know thyself,” echoed from a bygone era rich in wisdom, are potentially the keys to your entire health and happiness.
Find more on Honor here.
Interview done with Dr. Mataji Kennedy, clinical psychologist at Gaining Momentum Psychology Services.
Read more from Honor Tremain
Honor Tremain, Nutritionist, Author, and Journalist
Honor Tremain is an award-winning longevity nutritionist, author, and journalist whose journey into health began with a personal crisis where, between the ages of 18 and 23, Honor was bedridden with multiple chronic illnesses & determined to reclaim her life. She completed a Diploma in Nutrition, eventually healing herself, and went on to complete a science degree. Honor opened a thriving nutrition practice in Sydney, Australia, became a columnist and feature journalist for national and international publications, and in 2015, Honor published her debut book, A Diet in Paradise. Most recently, she founded Daya Pet Food Co., a health-focused and sustainable dog food company that was proudly awarded Best Health-Conscious Dog Food Brand 2025.
