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When we look in the mirror, what do we see?  For us to live a life of purpose, significance and effectiveness, we must become aware of who we are, and maybe more importantly, who we are are not.  Over the years, the lack of self-awareness of our strengths, our weaknesses, our passions, our gifting, and our experiences has become more evident, and this lack of awareness can hinder us in us becoming everything that God has intended us to be.  Knowing who we are, we can then be more intentional about developing our skills and passions, and discover the path that God intends for us pursue. 

God has designed each one of us as His masterpiece, preparing each one of us for good works.  Typically, we may just look at one aspect of our lives, but gaining a more comprehensive understanding of our makeup is critical.  While we may still be growing in many areas and things can evolve over time, there are some basic elements that we can evaluate to better understand how God has shaped us.  We ask these questions to form a baseline of our assessment.

• What are your strengths & weaknesses?  - What are the gifts that God has given to us both spiritually and naturally?
• What are your dreams? - What things or people get us excited and energize us?  In some sense, this question shapes the dreams that we have for our lives.
  
• How are you wired? - What is your personality type?  Are you an extrovert or an introvert?  Are you more task driven or people driven?  How we are wired impacts the way that we communicate, process information, handle conflict and relate to others.  
• What is your story?  What unique experiences/landmarks in your life shape who you are today?

Below is a short video by Eric Rees of Saddleback Church unpacking these questions through the acronym SHAPE.  This video helps us understand the core of what it means to understand the way that God has designed each one of us and the importance that plays in our role in God's purpose for our lives.