Bland introspection, Pt. 1

I spend an inordinate amount of time questioning my self-identity, but to what end? Upon first consideration I feel that were I to possess a consistent image of myself I would then better know how to proceed in the universe, how to confront both its blatant and latent uncertainties. This approach seems almost dogmatic, however, as though a formal statement of my capabilities and interests would engender an airtight algorithm by which I could apprehend (all of) experience. One unfortunate consequence of such an approach would be to stymy any personal growth on my part. To flesh this point out, let me quote Richard Feynman from The Pleasure of Finding Things Out--

We are at the very beginning of time for the human race. It is not unreasonable that we grapple with problems. There are tens of thousands of years in the future. Our responsibility is to do what we can, learn what we can, improve the solutions and pass them on. It is our responsibility to leave the men of the future a free hand. In the impetuous youth of humanity, we can make grave errors that can stunt our growth for a long time. This we will do if we say we have the answers now, so young and ignorant; if we suppress all discussion, all criticism, saying, ‘This is it, boys, man is saved!’ and thus doom man for a long time to the chains of authority, confined to the limits of our present imagination. It has been done so many times before.

It is our responsibility as scientists, knowing the great progress and great value of a satisfactory philosophy of ignorance, the great progress that is the fruit of freedom of thought, to proclaim the value of this freedom, to teach how doubt is not to be feared but welcomed and discussed, and to demand this freedom as our duty to all coming generations.

When my thoughts drift (as they often do) toward laying a solid foundation upon which to consecrate a "temple of self" I am reminded of Feynman's admonition to humanity. It's a theme I once addressed when observing others attempt to "define" themselves to themselves and to the external world, yet I have found myself festering in the same trap. What I said to myself then was "TO STRIVE FOR SELF-DEFINITION IS TO SPONSOR SELF-LIMITATION."  Any attempt to exhaustively characterize oneself automatically establishes bounds on what one can become.

Is it then profitable, as per the Temple of Apollo at Delphi, to "know thyself"? Or am I missing a distinction here?