The biggest challenge we all face is to learn about ourselves

The words of Mae Jemison—“The biggest challenge we all face is to learn about ourselves and to understand our strengths and weaknesses. We need to utilize our strengths, but not so much that we don’t work on our weaknesses.”—speak as both a guide and a warning to all who strive for greatness. They come not from mere theory but from the wisdom of one who journeyed to the stars, the first Black woman to travel into space, who knew both triumph and trial. In her words, we hear the eternal call of self-knowledge, the demand that we look within before we can reach beyond.

When she declares that the biggest challenge is to learn about ourselves, she echoes the voice of the Oracle at Delphi, whose temple bore the inscription: “Know thyself.” This was not a suggestion, but a commandment of wisdom. To know one’s self is the beginning of mastery; to ignore the self is to live as a blind traveler, stumbling even on the smoothest road. Jemison reminds us that the stars are not reached by rockets alone, but by the disciplined knowledge of one’s own spirit.

The balance she describes—between strengths and weaknesses—is the heart of her teaching. Strengths are gifts, blazing lights that illuminate the path forward. Yet if we rely only on them, they may become cages, confining us to what is easy and leaving our hidden flaws to grow unchecked. Weaknesses, though painful to confront, are the crucibles of growth. To ignore them is to build a fortress with cracks in its foundation; to address them is to make the fortress unshakable.

History offers us a powerful lesson in this truth. Consider Julius Caesar, whose brilliance as a general was unmatched, yet whose unchecked pride and ambition led to his downfall. He relied too heavily on his strengths, ignoring the weakness of his own unchecked desire for absolute power. In contrast, think of Abraham Lincoln, who knew that his temperament leaned toward melancholy and doubt. Instead of letting this weakness consume him, he worked through it, transforming it into empathy and patience, qualities that made him a leader of enduring greatness.

The meaning of Jemison’s words stretches beyond individuals to the whole of humanity. Our civilizations, too, have strengths—whether in science, art, or might. But when we worship only those strengths, we fall into ruin. Rome was strong in arms but weak in virtue, and so it collapsed. Athens was strong in wisdom but weak in unity, and so it fell to Sparta. The balance between strength and weakness is not only the challenge of one soul but of nations, cultures, and ages.

For us, the lesson is clear: do not flee from your weaknesses, nor hide them in shame. Acknowledge them, face them, and work upon them as a sculptor works upon rough stone. At the same time, honor your strengths, and let them guide you. Use them not as excuses to neglect your flaws, but as tools to support the work of growth. To live only by your strengths is to remain half-formed; to grow through your weaknesses is to approach wholeness.

The practical action is this: reflect often on your life. Ask yourself, “What do I do well? What do I avoid because I fear to fail?” Write them down, and let neither be forgotten. Each day, practice one act that builds upon your strength and one act that strengthens your weakness. In this way, you will walk the middle path Jemison speaks of, where balance brings resilience, and self-knowledge leads to true mastery.

Thus, let us pass this wisdom to future generations: the greatest challenge is not the conquest of space, nor the conquest of nations, but the conquest of the self. Mae Jemison, who touched the heavens, teaches us that true greatness begins within. Learn your strengths, face your weaknesses, and shape them both into harmony. For in this, you will find not only success, but the rarest treasure of all: a life lived in balance, and a soul at peace.