Reclaiming the True Self: The Journey to Personal and Collective Unfolding
Do you find yourself feeling unfulfilled in your work, as though there’s a void that’s becoming more and more difficult to ignore? With the ongoing global crisis, more and more people are starting to confront larger questions about their place in the world. You may have left your job in search of something more, only to find yourself taking on a new role that ultimately leaves you feeling unchanged. You post about your new position on LinkedIn, hoping for validation from the likes and congratulations from your network, but deep down, you know that the same old routine won’t bring you the fulfillment you seek in this rapidly changing world.
The emptiness you feel has been brewing for quite some time, in fact it has been a gradual shift that has been unfolding for generations. We have just come out of the industrial age, where the only objective was to extract value from the earth and its inhabitants, treating humans as mere interchangeable parts in a machine. Our education system is designed to produce obedient workers instead of fostering critical thinking individuals. However, what we are witnessing today is the result of this gradual shift that has been building up over the years. Some individuals are more aware of these changes than others, but evolution is a continuous process and it won’t be “over” at any point in time.
The transformation to a more enlightened state of being begins with a detachment from our ego. By observing our ego objectively, we can recognize how its fears, aspirations, and wants often dictate our actions. By loosening our grip on control, the need to appear successful, and the pressure to conform, we break free from our ego’s hold. This newfound liberation opens the door to accessing the wisdom of our deeper self.
Fear is replaced by a belief in life’s abundance. Across all philosophical and spiritual beliefs, there are two foundational ways of living — one rooted in fear and scarcity, the other in trust and abundance. When we choose to live from a place of trust, we move beyond the constraints of control, and our need to influence those around us and events around us diminishes. We embrace the understanding that even in the face of unexpected occurrences or mistakes, everything will ultimately work out for the best, and any hardships we face serve as opportunities for growth and learning.
The most exciting breakthroughs of the twenty-first century will not occur because of technology, but because of an expanding concept of what it means to be human.
— John Naisbitt
The emptiness we sense in our lives can stem from being controlled by the ego, basing decisions on external factors rather than internal guidance. In the past, societal norms and external markers of success dominated decision-making, but in this new era, we prioritize inner rightness and authenticity. Our ego-driven fears no longer hold sway, allowing us to make decisions that align with our values and purpose, even in the face of opposition. Rather than seeking recognition, success, wealth, and love as a means to a good life, we pursue a life well-lived, where these outcomes are merely pleasant byproducts. Our increased sensitivity to inner guidance leads us to act with integrity and authenticity, following a path of personal fulfillment and service to the world.
In the past, success, love, and recognition molded our lives and led us to the state where we were simply donning the masks of others, as poet May Sarton once said. However, in the journey towards inner rightness, we embark on a soul-searching quest to understand our true selves and the purpose of our lives. The ultimate objective is not to be loved or successful, but to live our lives as the purest expression of ourselves, to honor our inherent gifts and calling, and to serve humanity and the world.
In this perspective, life is viewed as a journey of personal and collective evolution towards our true essence. This shift marks a Copernican revolution in an age that promises that we can achieve anything we set our minds to. Instead of imposing goals and dictating the direction of our lives, we learn to let go and listen to the life that wants to live through us.
In his book “Let Your Life Speak”, author Parker Palmer writes:
“Behind the understanding of vocation is a truth that the ego does not want to hear because it threatens the ego’s turf: everyone has a life that is different from the “I” of daily consciousness, a life that is trying to live through the “I” who is its vessel. … It takes time and hard experience to sense the difference between the two — to sense that running beneath the surface of the experience I call my life, there is a deeper and truer life waiting to be acknowledged.”
As individuals move towards this new stage, they often adopt practices such as meditation, centering, martial arts, yoga, or spending time in nature to help find a quiet space where they can hear the voice of their soul and receive its guidance. Those who embody this perspective and are connected to a deeper sense of purpose often become fearless in following their calling, with their ego in check. Failure is not as frightening as not trying at all. A fitting phrase to describe someone who operates from this higher perspective is “an individual with drive, but not driven.”
Start trusting the ideas, the thoughts and feelings that are arising within you, and don’t dismiss them with your limited rational mind that has only brought stress and anxiety into your life. What you’re experiencing is genuine and whether you like it or not, if it resonates with you, it’s time to make changes and embrace the fact that life will be different from what you’re used to. And that’s okay. Something greater and more wonderful is already waiting for you.
