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I am looking for adjectives for describing a person who knows their limits, what they are capable of and what not, knows their weak and strong points.

Usage example: When you are going through a new adventure (or having a difficult time in order to change something) in your life, try to find your limits and strengths along the way. Once you are done with it, you become a more [word] person.

I know this sounds like a simple question, but I, as a non-English speaking person, just can't think of good adjectives for it. I could think of wise, clear-minded, etc. but I am not happy with what I came up with.

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    "realistic" maybe?
    – Elian
    Mar 13, 2016 at 8:13
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    "Pragmatic person"? - One who is practical.
    – Nagarajan Shanmuganathan
    Mar 13, 2016 at 8:21
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    Pragmatic is a pretty good choice: although the definition doesn't as-such specify knowing personal limits or strong/weak points, it is "solving problems in a sensible way that suits the current conditions" which would logically include a consideration of one's own ability.
    – John Clifford
    Mar 13, 2016 at 9:39
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    Thanks. Well, I do think wise works just fine in English, too. "Once you are done with it, you become a more wise person." I am not seeing any issues with that. Pragmatic could or could not work depending on context, as it is a more, um, dry, technical-sounding word than wise.
    – RegDwigнt
    Mar 13, 2016 at 19:28
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    This type of person who displays self awareness and is therefore self aware. Self awareness as explained in this article is what you are looking for. (Someone who knows their strengths and weaknesses)
    – Jon
    Mar 13, 2016 at 19:31

2 Answers 2

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Based on comments, the answer would be self-aware, pragmatic, or wise.

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  • Please explain your answer in full. Quote definitions, and if possible, link to a dictionary. :)
    – NVZ ♦
    Apr 29, 2016 at 6:25
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There is a saying for this in Chinese, it is "自知之明". I tried to find an English translation or equivalent and the closest thing I found was "self knowledge". You can refer to the definition here.

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