Who are you? A man? A woman? A doctor? A mom? A Dad? A teacher? Quite often we identify who we are by what we do? The question is do we do what we do because of who we are, or have we become who we are because of what we do? We are, after all, human beings not human doers.
So the question remains…who be ye?
Sometimes our authentic selves are cloaked in mindless repetition, unquestioned tradition, and illogical social mores that have become a source of personal security. The very thought of departure from these bastions of conformity create a mind numbing fear that is crippling.
Who are you? (CSI theme) Follow the evidence. “By their fruit you will recognize them.” (Matthew 7:16) If who you believe you are differs from what you do, an adjustment must be made. This cognitive dissonance is a major source of depression and other related psychosis. It is written: “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.” (Proverbs 13:12) Bringing your doing into alignment with your being is a major step toward peace of mind.
But you must first determine who you are. How do we do that? There is an old saying… “A leopard never changes his spots”. And “A rose by any other name is still a rose.” It is now common knowledge that our gnome or genetic coding determines our physical make up and can determine our propensity toward certain behavior and desires. The sociological question has been “Is it nurture or nature?” Does our environment determine who we come or is it our genetic coding? I submit that environments change and can be manipulated, but your DNA cannot (so far). I believe that just below the surface of societal influences and restraints is a seething, rumbling river of predestined authenticity. Who are you?
Ask yourself what is it you would love to do 24/7 that you would even do for free. If the answer ignites a flame and releases a passion never before experienced, you are significantly closer to the revelation of you.
Embrace your uniqueness. Nothing would be more tragic than to reach the top of the ladder of success only to find that the ladder was leaning against the wrong building. As the immortal Bard penned in Hamlet Act 1, Scene 2. “This above all, to thine own self be true and it must follow as the night the day. Thou canst not then be false to any man.” Who are you?
By Allen Edge, HPN Local Chapter Director, Chicago, IL
All Rights Reserved
