WHO ARE YOU REALLY?

Have you ever wondered who you really are? I mean really who you are - not who you think you are, or should be, or who other people wish you were. And not what you do in the world, parent, teacher, bookkeeper, executive, etc. Who are you really?

Just now, take a minute to pause, close your eyes and become aware of your body and any sensations that are present. Notice what is present for you. Are your shoulders tight, your breath shallow, is there tension in your abdomen? Whatever is present - just observe.

Now shift your focus and notice what emotions may be present. What are you feeling? If you are not used to paying attention to your feelings you may not know what you are feeling. That's okay. Clues are in the body sensations you are having. Often if we are having sensations in the shoulders, neck, jaw - they are associated with anger. Sensations in the chest and throat in general are associated with sadness or longing. Sensations in the abdomen region often indicate fear or anxiety are present. Most people are aware of when they are feeling happy or joyful.

With those clues - now notice what feelings are present for you in this moment.

Now move your attention and observe any thoughts, or images you may be experiencing right now.

Great.

Take a deep breath and ask yourself - who was doing all that noticing?

Many people respond with I am, I am the one noticing, I am the observer.

Who or What is the I AM? There is a part of each of us that is much greater than our mind, bodies or emotions. Who we really are is not the mind, body or emotions. This I AM is called by many names, choose a word that works for you or make up your own. Soul, Spirit, Essence, True Self, Authentic Self, etc.. The name is irrelevant. What serves is the knowing It exists, and It lives in you as You.

Many of us were raised to believe that we are our behavior, our thoughts, our feelings, our personality/ego structure. But who we really are is not any of that. All of that is what constitutes our humanness. It's as if our unique and wonderful conglomerate of body, mind, emotion, behavior, thoughts, actions, personality, ego, is the vehicle we've been given to get around on this planet, but the Essence is the fuel that keeps the car in motion.

Many of us have lost awareness of our essence. We have covered it up with layer upon layer of false selves designed to get recognition, avoid pain, and navigate successfully through childhood into adulthood. Then as adults we discover those very same strategies, or false selves, stand in the way of what it takes to have joy and love in our lives.

With this realization, many of us begin the lifelong quest for authenticity, living from the True Self, our Essence.

Maybe the most powerful wonder questions any of us can ever ask then is, "Who am I really?"

QUOTES

"You are not your bank account, or your ambitiousness. You're not the cold clay lump with a big belly you leave behind when you die. You're not your collection of walking personality disorders. You are spirit, you are love."
   ~ Anne Lamott ~

"It takes courage to grow up and turn out to be who you really are.
   ~ ee cummings ~

REQUEST

I am writing a book on forgiveness. If you would like to contribute you can do one or both of two things:

1. ask me any questions you might have about forgiveness, what is it, how to do it, why do it.....
2. send me any story you may have about how forgiveness, forgiving yourself or another has changed your life, even in small ways.

Once I have received your questions or story I will send you a link - and you can hear the audio of the interview I did on the topic of forgiveness.

Thanks!

PRACTICALLY SPEAKING:

• Become aware of your body and all it's sensation. For me right now, I am sitting and typing this and am aware of a tension in my shoulders and a tightness in my belly.
• Allow yourself to notice what you are feeling. As I type this and pay attention to my shoulders I feel pressures, and my belly tells me I feel a bit anxious.
• Now notice any thoughts or images you may be having. For me as I tune in I discover I am pushing to finish this article so it can go out tomorrow. I am feeling anxious relative to time.
• As I become aware of all this I deepen my breath, relax my shoulders and my belly and I observe my energy drop into my pelvis, grounding me. I feel more at ease.
• Now ask yourself - who is that doing all that noticing? Sit in this question . . who is observing my thoughts, my feelings, my body? Who am I really.....

Don't be concerned with coming up with an answer . . a powerful question is way more important than a right answer. Let this question lead you to your own truth - your genuineness - your realness - your authenticity.

WONDER QUESTION:

• Who are you, really?

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Copyright 2006 by Leslie Karen Sann, Living by Design
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