Self-knowledge: The key to transform society from within.

We have never been taught or made aware of the importance of self-knowledge. Knowing oneself is not an easy task and requires intention and perseverance. But without that descent into the depths, without discovering one’s own shadow and learning to manage it, no transformation is possible, neither individual nor, therefore, collective.

The journey towards a more just, loving, and conscious society does not begin
in the streets, at work, at the ballot box, or in political speeches…
it begins where no one applauds us: within ourselves.

While the social, political, and environmental crises we are currently experiencing are not new in the history of humanity, today more than ever, the urgency to wake up and do something different is evident. The media noise shows us leaders trapped in their own shadows, collective decisions that are stalled, and a growing sense of confusion in the face of global challenges.

Social crises, far from being merely external problems, reflect a deep and often invisible inner state of us who make up society. A just, honest, and compassionate society does not arise from perfect institutions, but from people who have worked on their presence, honesty, and self-awareness. Each of us is a microcosm, and therefore, relationships, decisions, and leadership are nourished by that inner level.

This is a call to take responsibility without blame. When we observe leaders who act from the shadows, we must recognize that we have chosen them because we too are sick in our ways, values, and consciousness.

“The world is sick because its individuals are
sick with ignorance about themselves.” Dr. Claudio Naranjo.

True social transformation cannot happen without a prior change in the heart and mind of each person. This issue, more relevant than ever, invites us to look inward. The transformation we seek cannot be solely external; it must unwaveringly begin with oneself.

The wisdom of this truth is not new. Already in ancient Greece, Plato formulated a fundamental idea that resonates powerfully today. In The Republic (Book V), he stated: “Until philosophers are kings, or kings and princes are true and diligent philosophers… the evils of states will not cease.”  With this, he indicated that the exercise of power without wisdom or self-knowledge is a source of social ills.

For Plato, a true leader is one who has done deep inner work,
who governs not out of ambition or power,
but out of love for truth and the common good.

Plato understood that social justice depends on the inner harmony of the human soul, a harmony that can only be achieved when reason rules over disordered passions and desires. That is why he proposed an education that cultivates virtue and wisdom, to train leaders who not only manage politics, but also have their sights set on the good of the whole.

Centuries later, the doctor and spiritual teacher Claudio Naranjo said that politics is a direct reflection of the mental and emotional health of the individuals who comprise it. He emphasized that self-knowledge is not an individualistic act, but rather a deeply political one: “By knowing myself and taking responsibility for my reactions, I become less reactive, freer, and more compassionate.”

Dr. Claudio Naranjo (1932–2019) was a Chilean psychiatrist, a pioneer in the integration of psychology, spirituality, and education. A disciple of Fritz Perls, the creator of Gestalt therapy, he was internationally recognized for his work in Enneagram psychology. Naranjo devoted much of his life to exploring the roots of human suffering and the paths to personal and collective transformation.

Inner work not only frees us on a personal level, but also impacts the way we relate to others, make decisions, and lead.

Society as a whole reflects the quality
of consciousness of its members.

That is why, for Naranjo, social transformation requires emotionally mature individuals who are aware of their shadows and committed to their growth. Otherwise, leadership will be a repetition of egocentric patterns, and conflicts, suffering, and mistrust will perpetuate.

It is impossible to understand contemporary social problems without recognizing the internal complexity that each individual experiences. Conflicts, polarizations, authoritarianism, and personal disconnections are not isolated symptoms: they are manifestations of a social fabric worn down by unhealed individual wounds. The speed with which information circulates and the immediate impact of global decisions demand a society that is not only informed but also conscious.

That is why many social initiatives crash into invisible walls. Activism, reforms, political and cultural movements often fail or stagnate because they forget a crucial factor: external transformation without internal transformation is limited and ephemeral. Changing structures without changing the people who make them up is like trying to heal a sick body without attending to its cells.

“Changing the world begins with transforming human character.”
Claudio Naranjo.

Self-knowledge is the process of discovering who we really are beyond masks, defenses, and inherited beliefs. It is not a narcissistic or selfish exercise, but a deeply responsible and political act. Because those who do not know themselves live reacting, repeating patterns, running away from their fears, and projecting their shadows onto others.

These individual shadows—pride, fear, anger, or envy—are reflected in society through collective behaviors, systems, and dysfunctional leadership. The ego, that inner voice that seeks security at any cost, colors our decisions and, therefore, social structures.

This diagnosis leads us to a fundamental point: we cannot expect real change in the world if we do not first change ourselves.

“Changing the world from within oneself” is not just a cliché.
It is a call to do the invisible, daily, and difficult work of confronting our
own limitations, wounds, and automatic mechanisms.

When this inner dimension is not addressed, the ego and personal wounds manifest themselves in collective actions, leading to polarization, conflict, or the repetition of patterns of domination and exclusion. Hence the importance of recognizing and working on our personal shadows: it is the path to a more compassionate, mature, and conscious society.

To accompany this process, one of the most powerful and accessible tools I know and use is the Enneagram. It describes nine basic personality types, each with its unconscious patterns, motivations, and defense mechanisms. Rather than pigeonholing us, the personality enneagram is a map that shows us how we disconnect from our essence and how we can return to it.

Through the Enneagram, we can discover the wounds that drive our reactions and find specific ways to awaken awareness and cultivate emotional maturity. It is a tool that helps us make the invisible visible, illuminate our shadow, and act from a greater inner freedom.

The question is: how can we bring this knowledge and inner work into the collective context? The answer is not simple or quick, but it is clear:

• Promoting an education that trains not only technicians or professionals, but conscious, emotionally mature, and ethical people.

• Fostering leadership that integrates self-knowledge as the basis for decision-making, power management, and social responsibility.

• Creating spaces for dialogue, reflection, and personal work within organizations, companies, and communities.

• Recognizing that change begins with oneself and that every conscious action has a social impact.

Let’s imagine a generation of leaders, educators, mothers, fathers, young people, and elders who make self-knowledge a daily practice, not an occasional privilege. Who dare to stop acting on autopilot, to question their patterns, to live more truthfully.

There is no magic solution or guaranteed external path to healing society if we do not take charge of the internal work.

The unhealthy leadership we see today, a manifestation of a wounded collective ego, is a reflection of a society that has not yet
embraced the challenge of self-knowledge.

As Plato said, the challenge is for rulers to be philosophers or, in contemporary terms, people who have done deep work on themselves. And that change begins much earlier: in each one of us.

The path to a better world lies in looking inward,
in cultivating awareness, compassion, and personal honesty.
That is the true political act:
transforming the world by starting with oneself.

If this article resonates with you, or if the subject of the Enneagram piques your interest, if you want to start a journey of individual self-knowledge or bring it to your team and organization, please don’t hesitate to contact me so we can take the first step together.