Foremost Greek Philosopher Socrates famously declared that an un-examined life is not worth living.

But the human brain is wired in such a way that we look a lot more outwards and a lot less inwards.

And as a result of that, what we see most of the time is the negativity of others.

That is the reason why we always feel that we are the good guys, while others are the bad guys.

We are the saints, while others are the villains

The people in government are corrupt, while those of us outside government are corrupt-free.

So, today, I want us to have a bit of sober reflection.

Let us just do a little bit of soul-searching.

I want us to look inwards to find out if are really who we think we are, because the same Socrates also declared, ‘Man know thyself’.

The reason being that most people don’t really know themselves.

The little exercise would enable us to know if we are high value persons.

To be a "high-value" person means to demonstrate strong integrity, self-respect, and also to possess positive traits like discipline, emotional intelligence, and respect for others.

High value person is defined more by character and how one treats others rather than by external factors like wealth or status.

Please quietly read the below and listen to your heart, because there is no other better judge than yourself.

As an individual, how honest do you think you are?

How reliable do you think you are?

To what extent do you practice what you preach?

How responsible do you think you are?

How supportive do you think you are?

How trustworthy do you think you are?

Let me now look at some of the signs of a high value person

How many people do you disagree with people without showing disrespect to them?

This is one trait that a lot of people lack.

For most people, everybody must see things from their own lens. Whenever, they don’t agree with you, they become your enemy and as such must be pulled down. When they want to address those who don’t agree with them, they address them with hate, with anger and with their voice raised.

They address those who don’t agree with them with insult and other derogatory words.

So, if you have not realized that you can disagree with people without disrespecting them and that you can disagree with people without raising your voice at them, you are not a high value person.

Are you among those who claim to be democrats but judge other people for speaking their minds or being independent minded?

Are you among those that practice ‘NOC’, that is Not Our Class.

Because you have some privileges, you discriminate, you segregate.

You feel that you are planet sun that every other planet must revolve around.

You are not really a high value person.

Are you among those who don’t appreciate other peoples’ efforts, the only thing you care for is result.

Are you among those who don’t want to encourage others to do better, because you don’t want anyone to go above you?

Then you are not a high value person because, encouraging others to do better would also make you become better and true test of leadership is the quality of your successor or successors, because any leader who does not have a successor is not really a leader.

Are you among those who don’t stand up for people when they are not around and don’t speak well of people behind their back, then you are not a high value person.

Furthermore, are you among those who react to everything? You always have opinion on everything. You don’t even know when your silence is better than your words, then you are not a high value person.

Below are some of the characters of high value people –

* Integrity and honesty: High-value people have a strong moral compass and consistently act in accordance with their principles, making them trustworthy.

* Self-respect: They value themselves, which includes prioritizing their physical and mental health, having high self-esteem, and setting boundaries.

* Emotional intelligence: They are self-aware, understand their own emotions, and can manage them effectively, while also being able to read and respond to the emotions of others appropriately.

* Positivity and gratitude: They tend to have a positive outlook, are mindful of their thoughts, and are grateful for what they have.

* Discipline and purpose: They have a clear sense of purpose, work to achieve their goals, and possess self-discipline.

Interactions with others

* Respect: They treat everyone with respect, regardless of status or background.

* Supportiveness: They uplift and support others, help those in need, and contribute to the success of those around them.

* Meaningful connections: They seek deep, genuine relationships built on trust and mutual respect, and avoid shallow or manipulative connections.

* Conflict resolution: They can handle disagreements calmly and respectfully, avoiding gossip and unnecessary drama.

Growth and development

* A growth mindset: They are committed to continuous learning and self-improvement, both mentally and physically.

* Ownership of mistakes: They are willing to admit when they are wrong and learn from their mistakes.

* Focus on passions: They follow their hobbies and passions, which helps them stay engaged and alive.

Peter Anosike has PhD in Consulting and Profit Management.

He is an international bestselling author and founder,Ultimate Entrepreneurs Academy,an organization that trains college students, undergraduates and even workers on how to become successful entrepreneurs .