What Makes You You?

The things by which we generally define ourselves – appearance, personality, abilities, work, relationships, etc – can all change. Our sense of self can be influenced by what people say, the situations around us and the problems we face. What is it, then, that defines who we are?

Much of the unhappiness and insecurity in the world is a result of our limited, external perception of ourselves. I believe it is the inner, spiritual, identity that people are searching for today. This spiritual identity can give me hope in a situation of despair, show me a solution to any problem and inspire me to change the direction of my life.  And it is through recognising and experiencing my spiritual self that I can connect with God and receive the strength and broader vision that I need to contribute positively to this world.

             “Start with the question: what do I really value in life?”

A good way to get to know myself on a deeper level is to start with the question: what do I really value in life? I will probably find that I value qualities such as love, happiness, compassion…the things that make me feel valued and bring inner happiness. I then think about whether or not the way I live my life reflects that – and what is there in my life that matches what I value? 

Seeing myself as a spiritual being, I rediscover my natural, inner treasures of peace, love, purity, happiness and wisdom, which I tend to forget.  It’s like having a beautiful instrument in my cupboard. Well, why not play it?  When I experience these qualities within myself, I became a much happier, more stable person. Understanding my own value, I am able to keep my self-respect, even when someone is trying to bring me down, and so can help others come out of their limited perception.

This is why it is so important to spend time in meditation every day. It helps me understand myself, reflect in this deeper way and become strong in my spiritual identity, so that I maintain my happiness and inner strength - and can influence the world around me in a positive way.

by Maureen Goodman

Discuss

Comments  
#38 aishwarya gupta 2016-12-13 05:35
om shanti !!... this article is good , but still i want to know that i can't do anything, means i am not capable for do something.. like if i do study, i always fail in exam... because if i learn anything, i didn't rember, if i talk about my job, where i where i also do something rong.. i am not perfact even a particular thing.
#37 RAUSHAN SINGH 2016-01-20 15:24
THAKS TO ALL WHOSE IMPROVE THIS MESSAGES AND ALL PEOPLE FOLLOW THIS MESSAGES.
#36 Vinu patel. 2014-12-03 01:14
Nice lesson.
#35 saxin reddy 2014-11-09 16:20
I 2 lv it!!
#34 Ashutosh Trivedi 2014-09-25 09:49
Important is.. 'Spiritual Identity' of myself.
To understand self identity, one soul need to maintain relation/ contact with "Super Soul" at all time.
It is really pleasant...........
#33 Garima 2014-09-15 08:43
om shanti. though i know little about spirituality wud like to share something. This is a very important question above all who am i? In our daily life we run after ppl in search of love,peace and happiness bt do we actually find it? No and even if Yes, then tht satisfaction is on a temprory basis. so basically we are running for temporal happiness tht will ultimately cause pain some day or the other. Atleast this is in my case. I am one of those who wants happiness and peace, joined various courses bt still not able to find happiness.. its important to know that love is inside us.
#32 chandrahas 2014-09-08 08:54
As stated in the First paragraph " The things by which we generally define ourselves – appearance, ... What is it, then, that defines who we are?"

To know who we are, by using the same knowledge,thoughts and memories which we gathered, accumulated, conditioned over the period of life time, is totally idiotic to do or ask. To ask or go into it about I, Life, and Death. All these questions spring only from memory. No way of knowing for oneself. With or without using mind as instrument, Either way no way of knowing anything. There is nothing to understand, that is the understanding.
#31 Italo Giardina 2014-05-31 03:10
The article advocates, it seems, that virtue ethics seems to take a foreground to the pragmatic ethics when it comes to subjective human welfare qua being (spiritual). The problem of collective common goods creates a dilemma which many NGOs face when it comes to how members are treated with dignity as a cohort of that organization. This may be why some members may not exhibit the advocated subjective virtues as lived experience.
#30 amit sharma 2014-05-02 14:51
so beautiful thoughts..........truly meditation is an art to get what we really deserve... happiness, calmness and much more.
#29 sandra sookdeo 2014-02-07 11:42
thank you very much for this beautiful reminder of who i am and what my real qualities are.
#28 Dona 2013-12-16 14:52
Nice nice
#27 Moderator 2013-10-23 12:43

Of course, Erica, just please credit the author (Maureen Goodman) and the source (Brahma Kumaris international website)

#26 Erica 2013-10-22 20:58
Thank you very much for sharing this. This article is very very nice. I want to share this to my friends. May I?
#25 Srilakshmi Aravind 2013-10-21 09:57
It is thought provoking. In today's mechanical life and routine, we tend to forget our true self. The question "What do I really value in life?" redirects our focus, gets us back to the right path filling with peace.
#24 Manish 2013-10-09 11:20
excellent article to know who you are?
#23 arjun rana 2013-08-02 17:22
this article has truly helped me discover my self. i value knowledge and relationship the most in my life so now i plan to devote all my time doing the same gaining knowledge or spending time with my loved ones.
#22 Ashok Kumar Hait 2013-07-21 17:16
A good article. We have forgotten that sprituality is a science which shows us correct path to attain a meaningful life, peace and proper wisdom. Various religions and belife are are just various paths to achive this fundamental truth - the divinity within yourself. In today's chaotic and cruel world this understanding of sprituality and religion is essential to save the world and humanity. Thanks for the article explaining this simple truth.







#21 SURESH 2013-07-19 21:44
very effective if we strickly FOLLOW
#20 Garima 2013-07-02 10:55
Really Nice...
#19 Bala 2013-06-23 03:51
Good article, it feels good when one reads it but in reality in today's world it is getting very difficult to find inner peace and also very difficult to forgive the ones who hurt you all the time and repeatedly
#18 Rashmi 2013-06-17 15:29
Really nice article....thanks for sharing :):)
#17 nandu jindham 2013-06-14 06:39
thanks to bramhakumari for bringing peace in the world. om Shanthi
#16 hemalatha 2013-06-11 08:39
this article gave the essential quality need to follow by a human being which had been vanished in our present lifestyles
#15 ganga sharma 2013-06-05 19:23
om shanti divine angel for all this valuable ar ticle...........its superb.thanks beloved baba always bless us with your pur love n blessing.........om shanti:)
#14 SHIVAM LODHA 2013-06-05 06:41
Purity is reality…purity is royalty… the authority of purity is the greatest personality…
Pyority hai reeyalty…pyority hai royalty…pyority ki authority hai sabse badi parsnaility …
#13 Geeta 2013-06-03 15:39
We all need reminders to do the right thing!!
#12 Sarojinii 2013-05-29 10:27
Thank for pointing out that the treasure hunt for peace, purity and happiness is through meditation - inner hunt ,not external hunt.
#11 Neetika 2013-05-23 21:54
Very true. i worked on these thoughts and i really started feeling blessed and valuing myself and others. i became very compassionate which i was not earlier.
#10 sunil singh 2013-05-17 20:11
thanks for reminding what i value in life
#9 Palash Ratan Das 2013-05-06 11:39
Thanks for the thought provoking article which brings awareness of the good qualities of the soul
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