As sailing season approaches, I've been looking at family albums. I'm fascinated by a black-and-white photo of myself as a child, grinning with delight, as I learn to pole a raft made from an old packing crate.

And many decades later, I see a multitude of colorful digital images of my wife and myself, happily voyaging in our sailboat.

An ancient adage echoes in my mind: the child is father to the man.

The skinny kid (me), learning to mobilize a raft is parent to the adult me, who may not possess all the skills of sailing but delights in the voyage.

As we grow into adulthood, we are both propelled and limited by the character we developed in our earliest days.

When as adults, we sense the need to develop further, there is one particular task we cannot avoid. It is to examine carefully the images of our life, that is, to be utterly frank about who we are.

Some do so literally, studying photographs, slides, prints, home movies and videos, looking for hints of their strengths and limitations.

Others may stand before a mirror, demanding that the reflected image remind them of who they were, and are.

Others use focused introspection: on their own, or in counseling, coaching, or therapy.

The method is not so important, but the task of knowing ourselves is.

The unexpected bonus is that by telling ourselves the truth, we not only prepare ourselves for change, we have in fact already changed. We have become more honest.

I write this with the recognition that you already know it. Of course.

But I imagine that there are people you wish to help develop to their full potential, including perhaps yourself, so I trust that you will find this reminder encouraging.

Looking at my own photo album, I seem to see the limitations of inexperience overcome by tenacity and bliss. I wonder what you see in yours.