Practice any path, or participate in any self-development program, the core message is always the famous Shakespearean quote, ‘This above all: To thine own self be true’.
But how to be true to oneself is the tricky part. The journey starts with knowing oneself, accepting who you are, and then be true to that real self. When we are unaware of our own self, then being true to that unknown self doesn’t happen, and we try to be true to the different personas or masks we wear to adapt to the prevailing situation. The more the masks the more the complexity and the distance from the inner self.
Unconsciously, the many projected selves become our ephemeral true selves and the juggle to keep them content ensues. I have written about NVC in my previous posts, wherein the core query is – what is your present need?
The first question James Clear asks in his book, Atomic Habits is – What is your identity? He writes, “Many people begin the process of changing their habits by focusing on what they want to achieve. This leads us to outcome-based habits. The alternative is to build identity-based habits. With this approach we start by focusing on who we wish to become.”
Until I don’t change who I am, no lasting change is possible. I may want to lose weight, I may aspire to be an award-winning writer, and much more, but unless the core does not change or have the willingness to change, this may verily be a futile exercise.
And last but not the least, the goal of meditation is self-realization. Which ever path we choose, it seems to be leading towards the same end, knowing oneself, and being able to accept oneself. Heartfulness Institute guide says, ‘Fake it till you make it’ because without self-awareness, nothing may fructify and stay.
Needs help us dig deep within and layer by layer we peel ourselves to see what lies at the core of our hearts; what makes us happy, what does the heart yearn for? Need consciousness offers us this unique chance to know ourselves with empathy and love. Meditation helps us be aware of the Self, cleanse away the irrelevant baggage, enabling a lighthearted joyous journey with the Self. Over a period of time, the journey with others also becomes accepting. Heartfulness meditation has two additional tools which are unique to this path, the cleaning process in the evening, and inner connect just before retiring for the day. They help us take each day as a new start and make a fresh beginning every day. This continuous cycle as a habit, following James Clear’s Atomic Habit’s suggestions very subtly and unobtrusively helps us know ourselves, and also be true to ourself, joyously.
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