Accept Yourself

by Robert S. Cosmar

Most people do not like their self.  Many more do not know their self. We live in a mental world, full of ideas, thoughts, and opinions. Our identities are borrowed from society, our parents, and even our peers.

Only when our goals, dreams and desires collapse before us do we consider that life is not what we have been told or sold. We suffer when this happens, but the suffering is a birth, of sorts, and an opportunity to rediscover our true self and its power.

Fear and distrust of self prevent most people from coming to terms with who they are. The world, society, parents, peers and teachers all apply pressure to conform to the norm or suffer the fate of being dubbed a failure. What they are saying is, "Who we want you to be is more important than who you feel you are." What we have, therefore, are highly educated failures as human beings -- people who can talk and think, for sure, but who lack an awareness of self and the awareness of how they fit into the universal scheme of things. It is one thing to identify with a thing or a philosophy, yet entirely another to know your self as an individual. One encourages conformity, the other causes us to go on a personal journey within to find our true and unique self.

Until the mind and heart are again merged into a cosmic partnership with the knowing heart as the lead guide, mankind will continue to fail in its attempt to achieve purpose. Mankind will not be able to conquer outer space, until we have achieved a greater awareness of our inner space. Man can only achieve great things in proportion to his ability to understand himself. It is awareness that has brought the discovery of great achievements in our time and many of those are outside the realm of thought.

Before you begin to find yourself, you have to look within. Before you begin to contemplate about who you think you are, you have to look at the way you feel you are. Nothing is more damaging to a soul than a runaway mind seeking itself through its thoughts, and a person hiding or evading how they feel. You are not your thoughts. Your feelings are much deeper and truer to your natural being, or self.

Do not judge yourself or anyone else, based on what you see or think -- open your heart and accept them.  Some will be your teachers and help you to learn about yourself. Others will be a reminder of your own prejudices and vices -- no one is better than anyone else. Until we see deeply into our self, we will not have the power to achieve our dreams in a manner that reflects our true identity.

Namaste.