Knowing Self
By Linda Koen.
The integration of knowing self (the real you) cannot come from a place of mental knowledge, it is through inner experience and the daily application of refinement that we can truly know self.
By knowing what is supporting the process of knowing your real self and doing more of that and putting aside those activities, beliefs, limitations and fear that are not responding to the stirring of your heart. The real or authentic self, realises it has the choice of wisdom or survival, the more wisdom that is chosen, the more light (gained through enlightenment) becomes available to shine light upon the path. We are all treading the path of life – the question is do we remember this in the challenging moments?
We are all learning and growing, we are taking life in and turning it into something – the choice is love or fear, expansion or contraction, forward or backward. Do we say thank you for the lesson and open our hearts to receive the gifts of the lesson? Or do we say “this isn’t what I want or asked for” and reject it. If you’ve ever done this you may have noticed that at some point when the same lesson (perhaps dressed up different) appeared for you to deal with / to learn from / to integrate and be grateful for. It is the real I, the light, the eternal and authentic self, the core, the essence, the heart that these lessons are for.
If we choose to follow the path of the Authentic Self we begin to sacrifice the desires and temptations of the lower self in order to choose wisdom and love, prioritising values over the opinions of others. The more we listen and follow our own inner compass, the more we stand in our own integrity and the stronger we feel to stand up for what is valuable and meaningful to the core of our being, more than simply seeking temporary satisfaction or relief.
In order to know yourself at your core of authenticity, there are some activities which you currently engage in which if you are completely open and honest with yourself, you would acknowledge are not supportive of you being at cause, being real and authentic as a state of being in love and wisdom.
Firstly you must put your mind in order, don’t let it think whatever it wants (thought energy is a creative force) train it to work clearly and dispassionately and establish a true perspective on life. Clear out all the rubbish, the inhibitions, fears, false values, faulty beliefs, uncertainties, indecision, fussiness, restlessness, worry, noise, urgency, anger, fear, envy and the opinions of others – these poison the system and eat away the vitality of body and mind. Eliminate all poisonous activities – doubt destroys hope, it is impossible to be in absolute faith and hope when one engages in fear and worry.
Some questions to ask yourself regularly:
- What are your ideals? In what do you really believe?
- What is your ambition in life – why?
- Are you prepared to face the truth about self and make a change?
- What are your faults? What are your talents? What are you doing about them?
- What are the things that affect and worry you? How important are they?
- Where are you not prepared to go emotionally?
- Where do you feel unprepared to go emotionally?
To attain complete balance – self-study/introspection/awareness is necessary – ideally at the beginning and the end of the day.
Some of the issues to be healed or at least addressed in the physical: Diet, self-love, addictions/eating disorders, health/disease, repressed emotion. Your body is a vehicle that houses your authentic essence and is worthy and deserving of being loved and cared for.
Emotional Level: self-esteem, self-acceptance, grief/loss, inner child, love, intimacy/glamour, insecurity, pleasing others.
Mental Level: Balance thinking and feeling, stilling the mind, disciplining the mind, engage in habits of excellence, truth/illusion.
Contentment comes from purposeful existence and satisfaction from wise achievement. The goal of life is to experience more than happiness - something to ponder :).
Remember the best things in life are not things!
Image courtesy of Idea go at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
