Uncovering Who We Are

We are in a process of seeking to understand our self, to uncover who we are underneath all of the layers of drama or illusion. It seems there are several steps or understandings or tools that are important in this process. Some may refer to these as levels, keys, jewels, the label is not important, it is our understanding that matters. I will use the word step.

It is important that we not become stuck in a pattern of understanding, but need to become aware that we are always in a process of understanding. In other words, the understandings that we have, our knowledge is not concrete, it is fluid and can flex, bend, change and grow to fit each situation we encounter in our daily lives. Knowledge/understanding is a tool we are given to use in our daily lives to shape and create the world around us.

We should not be looking outside of ourselves for someone to give us the answers, to tell us what we should or shouldn't do. What we need to seek is help in dealing with whatever comes to us in our daily situations. Each situation we encounter is different and serves a different purpose. We should be asking for help from others as to how to use the "tools" of our understanding to see what we can actively "do" in a situation rather than focusing on what someone else has done, will do or could do. Instead of asking for answers from others we need to ask the question, "What can I do? How can I best serve everyone, including myself?" Things don't just randomly happen or happen by accident, we know this, they happen because something was done, they happen with purpose.

We often get stuck in thinking that there is a certain way we "have" to think about a situation. For example, I have to be mad about this, there has to be someone to blame, someone has to be right or wrong. The idea is to become unstuck and be more open, not tied to old patterns of how we "have" to think. The goal is to learn to think differently, learn to assess each situation as it arises and use our understanding to discern how to act in each situation. There is no set way we "have to" think or react. We always have a choice, we can think differently and act differently, but it is not always easy or natural to do so. We are all different, each situation that arises is different, how we deal with it will be different, there is no set pattern, no one size fits all answer to any situation.

There are several steps to understanding who we are. The steps are fluid, they are not concrete, you can be experiencing them in different order and be at different levels of understanding on each of them.

It is important to understand the possibility of reincarnation. Perhaps we come into a body to experience different situations and learn from them. We leave that body, review what we've learned from the situations we were in, plan a new life and come back into a body to experience the situation from a different view or to experience a completely different situation. Each life is a learning experience, we are learning about the expression of our soul, seeing how we react in different situations or the same situations while in different forms. Not everyone is ready or willing to accept this idea and that is fine. I'm not asking you to, that is a personal choice a personal understanding.

With each life a reaction carries over from our actions. This is understanding what some people call Karma. When we understand Karma, take responsibility for our own actions, see that WE are in control of our destiny rather than looking outside of ourselves for someone to blame or tell us what to do, we will begin to have more influence or control over our situations. In other words, when we look within ourselves and take responsibility for our actions we will gain more control over what we are creating. Once again nothing happens by chance, everything is as it should be. If we want our situations to be something else, WE are capable of making them something else.

Understanding that there is no division, no separation is very important. Is it possible there is no such thing as high, low, far, within, without, no right, no wrong, no good, no bad. Is it possible that everything just IS, that hose words are just labels, judgments placed on people, places and situations. Some people speak of Hierarchies and levels and the differences in all of us, but perhaps that is only to help us understand the nature of man. What if in reality there is no separation. There are no good guys or bad guys, no us and them. What if we are all ONE, each one of us having different experiences, learning lessons and fulfilling certain roles. Can we see that we are in the right place at the right time functioning and evolving.

We are here to become what we already are. We can only become what we are. In other words underneath all of our layers lies who we really are, that is what we are striving to uncover, seeking to become. There are no limits to what we are other than the limits we've placed on ourselves with our minds/thoughts. We have an active role to play in what is happening, this doesn't necessarily mean we have to "got out and do" but rather be aware of and conscious of each situation we find ourselves in. It means seeing the influence we can and do bring into each situation by whatever we do or do not do. It's about being observant and aware, paying attention to how our action or inaction effects those around us and our world. It also means taking responsibility for what we ourselves have done or not done in each and every situation.

We are all in the process of evolving. We are uncovering, unwrapping, unfolding into our Spirit. We are in an "ever-upward" spiral which has no beginning and has no end. As we evolve there is constant motion and unfolding, with no set pattern adjustments are made along the way.

It is important to initially pursue development of "ourselves". We ourselves must become informed through our own individuality. We see who we are as a separate person with a unique body and personality. We use our separate "form/body" to experience life and learn about our "self". The development of our "self" leads to knowledge of self. This is how we find out about ourselves and get in touch with who we really are. When we get in touch with who we really are we move from development or growth of our "self" to growth of all/the whole, we move into seeing we are a part of a whole and that everything we do effects those around us so we begin to base all of our choices for the greater good of all people, we become selfless. At this point we are ready to become selfless servers.

When we have gained knowledge of who we are, knowledge of our "true self" and are willing to become selfless servers, we are in a state that is difficult to express with words. We've uncovered who we really are, we've connected with what we've been trying to get in touch with for so long, our beautiful inner self.

Getting to this state is a process. We learn to use our "tools", what we know, what we understand. Each one of us works at our own pace, using our own methods, our own style, yet nothing takes place in isolation. Each step is important, we are the totality of them all. Our task is to know this and to keep our minds fluid, opened and flexible. Our task is to look within ourselves and find our own understanding, to hold fast to that which our soul, our conscious tells us is "good", but to be accepting of others and their process along the way. Our task is to use our own understanding to be discerning and to know what speaks to our heart/soul and when necessary to take action or to wait.

As Thich Naht Hanh said, "Each thought, each action, in the sunlight of awareness becomes sacred."

Walk the Walk

It seems so many times we are full of understandings of our own and want to share them with everyone around us. But what use is just talking? How beneficial is talking the talk if you aren't willing to walk the walk? Speaking the words without putting the actions behind them seems kind of useless really.

Most of us understand that we learn the most about someone by observing their actions rather than listening to their words. As a preschool teacher and mother I understand that modeling behavior is the best way to teach. So what purpose does it serve to only speak to others about how things "should be" or how people "should act" if we ourselves are not willing to act in the manner we are "preaching" about?

I remember when my children were young taking them into a store and telling them not to touch and then finding myself touching everything...I'm very tactile oriented and want to touch everything. The irony of it all made me laugh. How can I expect my children not to touch the pretties if I myself have to touch them?

We can't yell at our children to be quiet and then wonder why they are so loud? How can we say we are for peace, but spread hate against anything, it is impossible to find peace through hating something. It really is pretty simple to understand, but not always each to put into actions.

As always we have to be the example we want to see. If we want to be loved and accepted unconditionally, WE have to love and ACCEPT EVERYBODY UNCONDITIONALLY. If we want to create peace, WE have to ACT IN A PEACEFUL LOVING MANNER. If we want to end hate, WE have to STOP HATING. If we want to see things getting done in our world, WE have to TAKE ACTION. If we want to be accepted in groups, WE have to REACH OUT TO OTHERS. If we don't want to be judged WE have to STOP BEING JUDGMENTAL. I could go on and on with this list, but I believe you get the idea.

Yes, we will all stumble and fall as we walk our walk, but we simply pick ourselves up, see what tripped us up, regain our balance and start walking all over again.

If we aren't willing to back up or talking by being willing to do the walking, we will never get anywhere and we are just wasting our time and the time of those around us.

We shouldn't be afraid to talk the talk, but we need to be willing to do the walking if we are going to do the talking. Seems pretty clear and easy to understand.

Use Your Inside Voice

There will be many voices outside of us that will tell us who we are and what we should be in the world. I've witnessed many a "higher, advanced soul" tell us who and what we should be based on their own beliefs. Often they are the ones speaking of love, but displaying hate and judgment against whatever goes against their current belief.

From what I understand if we want to know who we are and what we should be doing, we need to stop listening to those outside voices and start using our inside voices. In other words...listen to our inner guidance. I understand that those outside voices are loud and repetitive and so hard to ignore they get you rattled, but it's the quiet voice you hear in the stillness of your heart that will tell you who you really are and what your purpose is.

It is important at this time for all of us to try to find at least 10 minutes a day where we can be quietly with ourselves. Time to reflect on what's going on inside of us and refocus on listening to our inner voice. Time to take at least 5 deep cleansing breaths where we can release the tension spreading across our bodies and return ourselves to a more relaxed state. We don't have to sit still to do this, we can do this while taking a nice hot bath or quietly washing the dishes or even mowing the lawn. It's getting our mind still that we are focusing on and getting our body still helps to do this, but isn't absolutely necessary.

As we quiet our minds and all of the outside chatter in our head fades away we can focus on one thought....I am loved, I am loving, I am lovable. We don't have to do this, but it will help to remind us that at the center of our very being we are LOVE. This will help us to let go of all of the other garbage that gets blasted at us all day long telling us what to be and who to fear in our world. It will help us to let go of our judgments of others and of our self.

If we can maintain this focus on being loved, loving and lovable it will help us to face those around us who tell us who we are and what we should be without letting their words and actions soak into us and distract us or mold us into what they want from us. It will help us to let go of fear and judgment.

Many people are very well intentioned and think they have all the answers, but if they really want us to be who we are and all that we can be, they will tell us to look within our self to find our self, not tell us who and what we should be. If someone is trying to force their beliefs on us, honor them for their commitment to do what feels "right" for them, do not judge them. Bless them, love them and continue on our own path. Focus on our inside voice, not the outside voices. If we are looking within our self, we will KNOW what is "right" for us and we won't be led astray by outside voices that don't speak directly to our soul/heart. When we use our inside voice we have nothing to fear.

Remember, we are ALL teachers as well as students and no one person has all of the answers, everyone still has something to learn and many times finding answers simply leads us to more questions. If someone acts as if they have all the answers and becomes frustrated when they feel you are questioning them, something is off. Asking questions is good, it is not a sign of weakness or stupidity. Asking questions is how we learn and grow and help each other to learn and grow, it's how we all work together to find new understandings.

Remember...let go of fear and judgment, ask questions, work together, use your inside voice, and focus on love. How simple is that?