How do you discover your true self? How do you ascertain that you are living in line with your own principles? I know we’re all influenced to some extent by our family and peers, but ultimately we choose who and what we want to be. So, I ask again. How do you discover your true self?

I believe that question arises because we often know exactly what we are, we just choose to deny it. Can’t really change anything unless you acknowledge it, right? So if you realise a dark or shocking side to yourself and refuse to address it, it clouds your ability to understand its origin(s) and solution(s). In other words, there’s an inner voice that whispers the deepest secrets of the soul; many of us just choose to drown it out for fear of what we’ll hear. But that only delays the inevitable, doesn’t it? Suppress something long enough and it’ll explode out of control one day. Funny thing is, such explosions never come at convenient times. Bothersome, really.

Before you retort that it’s simplistic to presume an inner voice is all you need to discover yourself, think about it. Why are some people so confident, so comfortable in their own skin? Why is it that nothing shakes their belief in themselves? They’ve invested time and effort in extracting the essence of their character from their subconscious. They’ve examined their desires and identified a common pattern, one that allows them determine the reasons for those desires and the wisdom of satisfying such wants. But most importantly, they’ve accepted their identities. No shrinking back, no suppression, and no denial; they embrace all they are and change whatever doesn’t suit them.

I’ve already said environment and upbringing are great influences on one’s identity, but they are still less powerful than your innermost desires. The soul is a mystical and awesome entity; it is also the single greatest determinant of one’s personality. This is why those who comprise the “masses” are indistinguishable from one another; they all subscribe to the same way of thinking and have no ideas or opinions of their own. Notice how products strive for mass appeal in order to interest the largest possible slice of the population? Same principle. It follows then, that identity’s meaning in today’s society is a knotty issue. Inasmuch as you want to fit in and belong somewhere, you also want to remain true to yourself. It’s about finding the balance between being your own person and remaining a part of your community at the same time. Feel me?

And that’s all for now, please come again for more in The Identity Series. 😀 Agree with or oppose anything I’ve said? Feel free to leave your comments underneath this post or send your emails to findotitihere@hotmail.com Thank you for reading and please share your thoughts. Later, people.