How can we live more authentically?
It seems that each one of us holds a deep inner yearning to live authentically. It also seems a key part of that authenticity is encapsulated by Pierre De Chardin in his famous quote:
“we are spiritual beings having a human experience”.
Deep down we may sense this or know it to be true about who we authentically are, yet we often have a difficult time accepting it, knowing it, and or living it.
Ironically, to better understand our authenticity requires some skepticism about who and what we have told ourselves and listened to about what the world has told us, re who we are. Part of our dilemma is the attachment we have to the person we’ve tried to be (ego or persona) to get along.
This short video by Gabor Mate addresses this briefly…
In the Bible’s New Testament, Romans chapter 12 Paul writes “do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
To “conform to the world” is something we all do. We experience conforming as necessary from a very young age and as we grow into adulthood. We can experience times when we sacrifice our authenticity to ensure fitting in, getting along, or perhaps even surviving depending on the circumstances.
Conforming is part of our survival mechanism and helps us thrive under the outer “rules and norms” which come from our families, communities, places of worship, workplaces, countries, regions, affiliations, etc.
The paradox is that we know who we really are deep within, spiritual beings, having a human (world conforming) experience.
We could stop here but it’s important to experientially explore the inner conflicts that exist and have arisen within each of us over time.
These inner conflicts take many forms, including various levels of trauma, and it helps to address them to understand our authenticity which includes acceptance, spiritually speaking, of who we are and Divine Love which spiritually speaking, embraces and guides each of us.
Please take a few minutes to watch this brief video by Bessel van der Kolk re trauma.
We’ll work though some breath, mediation, and other practices in order to begin to discover our own sense of Divine authenticity within.
Practice for your consideration:
Utilizing the story of Peter from the New Testament, utilize prayerful consideration of Peter’s life and actions (words too) to notice what speaks to you re “attachments” and or “authenticity” in Peter’s experience as a guide or mirror for your own journey.
Once you’ve had a chance to consider Peter’s (and your own) experiences, ask God to guide you to see it all through a Divine Perspective, looking at you (and Peter) as beloved children of the Holy of Holies.
Consider what might be some things to do or not do(or things you want to do but are not helpful to the current relationship/context you’re considering) and work through various scenarios.
Soul Journeys 