Each of us is a unique and precious soul sent down to earth on a mission to do what can only be done by us. But so many of us aren’t quite sure of who it is we are, so we find following our path difficult. Oscar Wilde’s famous quote, “Be yourself; everyone else is already taken,” was predated by Hillel's famous dictum, “If I am not for myself, who am I?” Which can also be interpreted as: Only I can be who I was created to be, and do what I was created to do.

Following are 10 ways to achieve this goal:

1. Discover your history.

Who you are did not begin on the day you were born. You are part of an endless chain, and many events over millennia converged to ensure that you would be born where you were to the family youKnowing who you are gives you a sense of direction were born into at your precise date and time of birth. Are you Ashkenazi or Sephardic? Yemenite? Amharic or Indian? Where were your Jewish roots planted, uprooted and replanted? And what does that mean for you? What are your specific cultural traditions, and who were your ancestors? What path did they carve out for you, and are you following it? Are you a righteous convert who chose to join the Jewish people in their Divine and cosmic mission? What elements of your past set the stage for this epic choice? Knowing who you are gives you a sense of direction, an identity, a starting point for your journey and a past to connect to as a compass. Do some research and you’ll be surprised at whose spiritual genes you are carrying.

2. Don’t limit your horizons.

At the same time as it is important to know our history to give us a sense of identity, we may have many roles and details about us that people see as defining us—our ethnicity, place of residence, job title, family status. While these things do reflect certain aspects of our life, it’s not true that everyone who lives in the same neighborhood or has the same ethnicity is alike. The same is true for all categories: divorcees, nurses, South Americans. Harmonize as many aspects of your life as possible to put together a truer picture of who you are.

3. Know your strengths.

It is a terrible thing if we don’t know our weaknesses (in order to improve them) but it's a much worse thing to not know our strengths. We all have talents, passions, strengths and skills that we can use in our Divine service, in our service of others and in our enjoyment of life. But so many people either don’t know their strengths and talents, or push them into the closets of their mind for when they have more time to explore them. Of course, that time never comes. The talents and strengths we have are gifts given to us by G‑d. They are meant to be unwrapped, admired and used for ours and everyone else’s benefit.

4. Don’t let other people determine your value.

We think that our friends reflect who we are, but the opposite is true. We become ourselves based on who we choose as friends. We should have three types of friends: those we aspire to emulate, those on our level with commonalities, and those we can help and who look up to us. Choose to be with people who value you and bring out the best in you.

5. Be authentic.

Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Kotzk said: “If I am I because I am I, and you are you because you are you, then I am I, and you are you. But if I am I because you are you, and you are you because I am I, then I am not I, and you are not you.” Live your life with integrity and don’t dissemble to please others. It isn’t enough to just be yourself. Be extremely yourself.

6. Know what your personality type means.

Everyone likes taking those personality tests because we enjoy validation and acceptance of who we are. If the test says we’re an introvert, it will invariably say we are quiet, deep thinkers while if we’re classified as extroverts, we are probably a great friend and the life of the party. While people’s character traits exist on a continuum, knowing how you are energized and what gives you pleasure is important to set the stage, where you can use your talents and make your unique contribution. While everyone should venture out of their comfort zone every once in a while to flex their spiritual muscles, we need to choose environments and settings that nurture us (where we live, work, pray and play) so that we have the best chance of reaching our greatest potential.

7. Act the part you want to play.

Not everybody likes everything about themselves. If there’s something you want to change, act as if you have already made that change. Do it for 30 days, and you will change that character trait. Not a smiley person? Force yourself to smile at five people a day, even if it’s a grimace at first. After a month, your smile will become natural and sincere. This is true of most behaviors.

8. Say no.

If someone asks you to do something thatIf it feels wrong, it is wrong compromises your inner values, say no. If it feels wrong, it is wrong. Anything that trespasses on your essence or your belief system is not right for you, and you shouldn’t be made to feel bad about it.

9. Recognize your boundaries.

This applies not only when someone wants something from you but when you want something from someone else. Your uniqueness, your choices, attitudes, life rhythm and personality belong to you alone. And though you might believe it’s for the best, you can’t impose your choices or perspective on other people if they don't want you to.

10. If not now, when?

That’s the last part of Hillel’s dictum. Don’t wait to do the things you really want to do. Follow your dreams. They are a reflection of who you aspire to be. And thoughts have power to create reality. The Hebrew word for “dream” is chalom, which is a rearrangement of the same letters as lechem, “bread.” One is necessary for our physical sustenance, the other for our emotional sustenance. Start living your dreams, a little bit at a time. We are all made in the image of G‑d, and we have the ability to live a G‑dly life by using our innate spiritual powers to realize the amazing potential inherent in each one of us.