By Jessica McGregor
Who am I in relation to the roles I play in my life: as son or daughter, brother or sister, wife or husband, boss or employee. Who am I in terms of my relationships with the outside world. Who am I, what is my purpose, what do I want to receive or contribute? These are questions we ask ourselves, in different and varied ways, on a daily basis. The biggest question, however, does not relate to relationships but to the soul.
The Who am I question is often the first we ask and it relates in part to our values. Values are what we see as important aspects in our life, the things we hold true like honesty, laughter, good communication or love. As we play out the different roles in our life we can either be true to our values or compromise them to please others around us.
One way to reconnect with your true self is to become aware of what our values are. Values show up in all areas of your lifes and one way to connect with them is take yourself back to a time when you felt frustrated or angry. What was going on at that time, what was your mind shouting, what values were being trampled on? Those are the ones that are important to you. Another good example of your values is the opposite – a time of great joy. What was playing out then, what values were being honoured at that time? By bringing your values to light you can commit to living them. In that way the Who am I in relationship to your roles become a clearer reflection of your true self.
The Who am I in relationship to the outside world is about finding your place. This often becomes clearer when you discover your purpose, the thing that gives us the motivation to go out and do that which will give us fulfilment. Purpose is about passion; it is gives us our greatest joy. Some people feel that our purpose should be huge or world changing and that may be true for some, but it can also play out in a smaller arena, a family, local community or the workplace.
One way to connect with yourself and discover your purpose is to do a written contemplation. Sit quietly for a while, bring yourself to the present moment by controlling your breath and ask yourself: What am I passionate about, what fulfils me?
Sit with this question for a few minutes and then pick up your pen and start writing. Keep on writing, no wordsmithing or censoring, just allow the pen to flow. Once you have finished, take a look at what you have written and see what the prevailing answer is. This is the first step towards discovering your purpose and reconnecting with yourself. By asking for answers and looking into your heart, you’ll find a true reflection of who you are right now.
Who am I? is the big picture question. It often comes at a time when we want a more meaningful life. For me it came when I realised that all I had achieved or accumulated didn’t reflect who I was. I felt there had to be more.
Look past your ego and become aware of what it is inside you that never changes. Can you stop right now and get a feel for that part of you that I like to call The One, that has always felt the same way? Can you take that half step backwards and look out through your own eyes, through The One’s own eyes?
I use the word One purposefully. Because the One that is us is the One in all of us. And that is the driving energy behind the question Who am I? and the desire to feel whole again. So how do we reconnect?
Practise. A wise teacher once said, 'choose one thing to bring yourself back to your Self and practise it'. It might be to see things through your own vision, or to commit to a meditation practise. It could also be having half an hour to listen to an inspirational CD that brings you back into knowing yourself.
Whatever it is, it will be something that draws you inside to reconnect with your true self. In truth we know who we are, we have simply lost sight of ours Selves and need to wipe clean the windscreen of our minds to see ourselves clearly once more.
Jessica works internationally as a Life Fulfilment Coach She has recently published her first book Remembering Perfection – Everyday Inspiration for Living your Spirituality. www.rememberingperfection.com
