William Shakespeare, of course, wrote “This above all: to thine own self be true. And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man.”
Seeking a life of purpose could never be carried out in the suggestions of a solitary post about the very nature of Living a Life of Purpose, but understanding the core of who you are, there is always a starting point that you reinvigorate your soul’s quest for truth.
Of course, everyone has their own life journey, their own truth, but somewhere along the way there must come a realization that there is a Life Purpose, the True Self that you were destined to become..
There is an old story from the Taoist tradition about the nature of the True Self.
A distraught man approached a Zen master. “Please, Master, I feel lost, desperate. I don’t know who I am. Please, show me my true self!” But the teacher just looked away without responding. The man began to plead and beg, but still the master gave no reply. Finally giving up in frustration, the man turned to leave. At that moment the master called out to him by name. “Yes!” the man said as he spun back around. “There it is!” exclaimed the master.
Several years back, there was a famous movie done by Steven Spielberg called, “Saving Private Ryan.” The movie followed a group of men lead by Tom Hank’s character, who were dispensed to bring back to safety, Private Ryan, who was the last member of a family of brothers who had been killed in World War II.
While the story was riveting, it was the last line of a now-elderly Private Ryan, after he had lived his life, that made me think. In one of the final scenes of the movie, an elderly Mr. Ryan is seen asking one of his children if he had lived his life well enough to account for the sacrifice that many men made to bring him home. Had he lived a life that mattered.
In many regards, that is the truth of life, is it not? Who are we answering “Yes” to when someone calls our name? Will we indeed look back and ask if we, too, have lived a life that the expansive Universe desires for us?
At the heart of it all, is our Core; Who are we at our Core and what is the Core Concern that seems to be holding us back from living that life that matters.
While you may think that these are two questions, they are essentially a coin with two sides.We all have a Core that we answer “Yes” to and then there is a Core Concern that seems to derail that “Yes” time after time.
The Core Concern That Binds Us
In truly living in the Now Moments of life, it is the Core Concern that seems to be our arch-nemesis. You see, we all have a Core Concern, that which seems to be at the heart of of fears, doubts and worries that seek to deplete the “Yes” part of us, our True Self.
But here is the main concept of the Core Concern; We spend a lot of time and energy trying to feel it and most of that is done unconsciously. In many ways, the ego takes over to cover over it by releasing insecurities that seem to cover over the feelings instead of just embracing them
3 Ways to Deal With Your Core Concern
As was said, the feelings of the Core Concern, whatever that is for you, is that seemingly “dark place” that often seems to derail you; be it anger, fear, feelings of not being worthy or whatever it is that you most struggle with. Turing it over to the ego to sort out, often with unforeseen consequences is not healthy, but is a place most go.
Way 1: Look into the Light
Essentially, embrace the Core Concern as a teacher, of sorts. In the movie mentioned above, “Saving Private Ryan”, Ryan’s Core Concern that he carried throughout his life, was that many men sacrificed their lives for him, a lowly Private in the Army and he struggled with being worthy.
The Core Concern is like that black hole in space that is sucking the energy of our souls but maybe, we should just turn our ship into it and embrace it for the teacher that it might be. Instead of constantly asking yourself if you are worthy, or whatever, just tell yourself that it is there as an object lesson for you.
Way 2: Accept With No Judgement
We waste a lot of energy dealing with our Core Concern in ways that are counterproductive to our “Yes”, our True Self. Instead of NOT trying to feel it, accept it for what it is. Acknowledge it with NO judgement. As soon as you start into the judgement for the reason it is there, the cycle starts all over again. Become an observer, in a way. Look at it and actually thank it for showing you a lesson and the way to your True Self, the way you can always say “Yes” to.
Way 3: Release It and Move On
This may be the toughest challenge in that, in many respects, your Core Concern is serving you by giving you an excuse to not fully embrace your truth. By saying “Thank You” and letting it go, we become the truth that is meant to be.
In living in the Now Moments of life, wouldn’t it be nice to just “Be”? No judgements, no worry about the “what ifs” of life? Just embracing the Core Concern with no guilt and saying that is what it is and its OK.
It is time to glean the lessons and move on. For here in the release of judgement, guilt and shame is freedom to become life itself.
Your True Self awaits.
Be a Person of Quality. Direct Your Power.
Until then…
Be Excellent, Expect the Best!
Let me Know your Thoughts Below, Follow this Blog, and be Social with this Post, for the more people we have living successfully in this Now Moment and discussing the value of doing so, the higher we lift all others around us.
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DA Southern is an Author, Speaker, Blogger and a Personal Development Life Coach, teaching the spirit of living in Now Moments with the principles he experienced during over 35 years as an actor and director in live theatre. DA coaches his clients to rid life of limiting beliefs that have kept them from achieving miracles in all areas of their life by embracing Mindfulness of the Present Moment with a renewed Vision for life. Contact DA Southern for Coaching or Speaking @ directyourownlife@gmail.com
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