Last week's subject was "Who Are You?" I received so much feedback from that topic, I've decided to expand on it this week.
If you missed last week's Mindful Moment, you can read it here. Once you've asked yourself "Who Are You?" I
want you to ask yourself "Who Are You - NOT?"
1. You are not your job.
Robert Fulghum summed it up beautifully in his book "It Was on Fire When I Lay Down on It". He wrote: Making a living and having a life are not the same thing.
Making a living and making a life thatīs worthwhile are not the same thing. Living the good life and living a good life are not the same thing. A job title doesn't even come close to answering the question "What do you do?"
2. You are not your bank account.
Money comes and money goes. Having more of it doesn't make you a better person just as having less money doesn't make you a bad or inferior person. I
would argue that it's not about the amount of money but rather how you use whatever money you do have.
3. You are not your possessions.
You are not your car. You are not your house. You are not your clothes. Western society is a consumer-driven society and product marketing is a very big part of our lives. Television, radio, newspapers, magazines, billboards, websites, even e-mail. All of these media are filled with product marketing messages. The favorite tactic of
marketers is to get you to identify with their brand and their product. Can we really judge a person by the car they drive or the soft drink they choose?
4. You are not your education.
Degrees, diplomas, certificates - or the lack of them, can contribute to who you are, but they do not define you. Sure, they may play a role in what kind of job you have, but if you are overly concerned about that, see point #1 above.
5. You are not your illness or condition.
People who are suffering from an illness or a medical condition go through a tremendous amount. Often, they go through so much that they tend to identify with the illness or condition. I want you to think carefully about the difference between the phrase "I am" and "I have".
A disease, illness or condition is something that you have - not something you are.
Why does all of this matter?
It is important to distinguish who we are from what we have and to be vigilant in ensuring that we don't confuse the two. If we tie our identity to what we have, what will happen to us if what we have changes? THEN who are we?
Isn't it time you got to know the real you?
ENJOY NOW!
The grass is not, in fact, always greener on the other side of the fence. Fences have nothing to do with it. The grass is greenest where it is watered. When crossing over fences, carry water with you and tend the grass wherever you may be.
- Robert Fulghum from It Was on Fire When I Lay Down on It
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National Library of Canada ISSN 1708-0606
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