[5] Why Do I Need to Know “Me”?

1. Because I Was Born as Me

“Why do I need to know myself?” It sounds like an obvious question, but it’s hard to think of one more vital. If I were to answer as truthfully as possible, it would be this: Because I was born as me.

Once I arrive in this world as the person called “me,” I have no choice but to live as myself. Even within conditions I never chose, I must carve out my own path through my own will and effort. Life often brings events that make no sense, and responsibilities arise even within relationships that seem unrelated to us. As we carry the weight of this life, a question naturally rises to the surface: Who am I, really?

2 Three Meanings Hidden in the Question “Who Am I?”

Inside the question “Who am I?” there are three fundamental inquiries quietly waiting to be discovered:

• The Question of Identity: This is an exploration of "uniqueness." It’s the process of noticing what makes me distinct—whether I have a sensitive eye, a talent for logic, or a calm temperament. It is a journey to understand my background, my natural talents, and the things I truly hunger for.
• The Question of Meaning: This is the search for an answer to “Why should I live?” It involves deciding what values I want to realize and what kind of life I want to stand behind. I didn’t choose to be born, but I can choose how I live. To make those choices hold, I need a solid anchor: meaning.
• The Question of Existence: This is the most fundamental level—asking “Why, and how, did I come to exist?” This is where the inquiry becomes truly philosophical. Finding the reason behind my existence provides a firm ground under my feet, allowing me to stand tall and confident in a world that is often rough and unwelcoming.

(Listen to this soundtrack while you read to immerse yourself deeper into the reflection.)

3. The Most Noble Question a Human Being Can Ask

Ultimately, the question about “me” expands into a broader inquiry: What is a human being? After all, I am one person within that larger category. What kind of creature is capable of such deep reflection? How is this inner conflict even possible?

We can ask these questions because humans have the unique ability to look at ourselves as if in a mirror—to step back and see ourselves objectively. Strictly speaking, one can survive without ever asking “Who am I?” Breathing and eating don’t require self-knowledge.

And yet, human beings are never satisfied with mere survival. We are the kind of beings who demand to know the meaning of living. We wonder why this life was given to us and what kind of map we should draw as we move forward. That is simply who we are.

If I truly want to live a life that is mine—if I want to live as myself—I must ask, again and again:

"Who am I, really?"

[6] What Kind of Place Is the “World” I Live In?

That is why the question, “What is the world?” ultimately becomes another: “What does this world mean to me?” It is a process of searching for meaning while drawing my own map of the place I call home.

바스락 basolock김대근 DAEGEUN KIM

Losing Your Way to Find Yourself [Book Introduction]

This book invites readers into the timeless questions that define human existence — “Who am I?”, “Why was I born?”, and “Why must I live?” For those who carry deep and restless questions, Losing Your Way to Find Yourself offers a moment of quiet contemplation — a pause between one step and the next.

바스락 basolock김대근 DAEGEUN KIM