Get to Know Your True Self

Somebody said that the difference between man and animals is that animals never try to be something they aren’t.  A dog is a dog and cows are cows.  Humans try to be something we are not and forget who we are designed to be; our “true self.”

 

One day Peter Drucker looked at us and said, “The only reason you are here right now is that you can sit on your butt longer than the other guys, they are out learning where it matters.”  He continued, “You don’t even know yourself and you won’t know yourselves until your about 40…”

 

He was right; we didn’t know ourselves.  I started learning when I was 40; I’m not finished yet.

 

Around 40 many of us wonder who we are.  That is because we have spent 20+ years climbing the career ladder and now we’re bored.

 

Career expectations, placating others, or compromising yourself contributed to losing your “true self”.  Maybe you can relate to Max and Max

 

Peter Townsend said it this way:

I stretched back, and I hiccupped
And looked back on my busy day
Eleven hours in the tin pan
God, there’s got to be another way

Well, who are you? Who are you? Who?

(The Who)

 

Letting go of the false self is hard.  Over the years shame and guilt distort beliefs.  Even though I realize these beliefs are lies, they are foundational to my thoughts.

 

The discovery of your true self is risky.

 

It makes you wobbly. Courage is necessary to step into the identity destined for you.  But it is worth it:

 

“the discovery of your True Self will feel like a thousand pounds of weight have fallen from your back. You will no longer have to build, protect, or promote any idealized self-image. Living in the True Self is a much happier existence, even though we never live there a full twenty-four hours a day.”  Rohr, Richard. Immortal Diamond(Kindle Locations 471-473). Wiley.

 

You are on this earth for a purpose to serve others and designed with a special set of capabilities that no one else has.  Don’t lose sight of that.  Knowing yourself and putting your true self toward that purpose is worth more than any amount of money you could make.