Become Your Own Person

“When we stop naming ourselves, who we think we are disappears…”

Adyashanti, Falling Into Grace

We use thoughts and the words that enable those thoughts to define ourselves, others and the entire world. As children, we allow the thoughts and words of others to define us: child, white, black, chubby, skinny, pretty, plain, shy, aggressive, good, bad. And we become, in our minds, whomever others have defined us to be. We believe their words. We capture those words in our heads as thoughts. And we come to define ourselves by the words that adults have placed upon us. We own their words and we become their definition of who we are.

How many of us still define ourselves today by the words that others assigned us as children? Probably all of us do to some degree. How many of us ever take the time to challenge these outer-imposed identities? Probably all too few of us. So let’s start today.

As Adyashanti says, when we stop naming or defining ourselves with the thoughts/words others originally imposed upon us; when we stop defining ourselves with the thoughts/words we have imposed on ourselves, who we think we are disappears and we are free to simply be. All we have to do is observe by being present to ourselves and to the world around us in the here and now, outside of our heads, without any preconceived thoughts or judgments. Suddenly, it’s as if we were just born into this life. Everything is fresh and new and we are at peace—if only for a few moments.

Of course, we will once again begin naming or labeling ourselves, others and all we see. But this time, we have a choice. We can choose to be open to ourselves and others, and we can choose to be kind and affirming in redefining ourselves, others and the world. We must start with ourselves. Without making any harsh judgments, without comparing ourselves to anyone else, we need to become acquainted with our real selves for the first time. In doing so, we need to see the God-given beauty that we each possess. If someone else’s old words we once used to define ourselves creep up in our heads, we need to gently dismiss them. They are simply a shadow. Allow them to disappear under the light of your new affirming self-definition.

Today and everyday, take time to sit with yourself. Clear your mind of preconceived thoughts by observing yourself and everything around you. Allow yourself to simply be and allow old negative self-defining thoughts to disappear under the wonderment of your simply being content in the present moment. Then take some time to allow positive self-defining thoughts to caress you into feeling the true beauty of who you are. Take back your power from those you have allowed to define you all of your past life. Become your own person. Own the beauty of your true identity as God intended when He breathed you into existence.