Believing that labels don't define us

When people claim they want to "find themselves," or ask the question "who am I?" what does that really mean? As human beings we are conditioned to identify ourselves and others with labels such as: intelligent, funny, creative, etc., but these are just labels and don't really define "who" we are. Who we are is much more abstract and significant than just labels or characteristics. As children we learn to navigate the world by attaching labels or characteristics to things. Kittens become something that are fuzzy and purr and fellow humans become identified by their own distinct characteristics. But once again do those labels and chacteristics really define "who" we are as spiritual beings?

When we question "who we are" perhaps it is more about us wanting to feel accepted, valued or to possess a sense of belonging in the world on a more basic spiritual level. When people feel lost or adrift maybe they have spent far too many years looking outward for validation and have allowed labels to define them and once these labels are stripped away or questioned-they are left feeling confused and vulnerable. Perhaps if they stopped looking outside of themselves for answers and just listened....truly listened they might hear their spirit calling out to them to reconnect- Like a faraway voice calling out from the distance offering hope to one lost and frightened in a blinding blizzard.

The question "who am I?" may just seem like just an existential cliché but it isn't. It is the one question that challenges us from the moment we are born and for most until the end of our days. While it might affect people in varying degrees- at some point every human being will confront this existential dilemma. The question we must ask ourselves is not just "who am I?" but what labels have I allowed myself to be defined by? And more importantly, "can I let go of those labels?" If we are not smart, funny, strong, kind, then how can we define our existence? Perhaps discovering who we are is less about the labels or characteristics that "describe" us and more about our personal sense of "self" or spirit. If we strip all the labels and characteristics which describe us on a cognitive level, then what we are left with is just our souls...undefinable. Our spirit's only purpose is to love and be loved....pure and simple. First our cognitive or conscious mind must accept this simple truth and learn to love "self" or "spirit" unconditionally void of any labels or conditions. Once we achieve this then our love of "self" becomes "who" we are. It is what defines us and our purpose here on earth. We no longer are living externally but internally and all of those labels become meaningless.

How do we learn to love ourselves? Here is the cliff-hanger; we don't HAVE to learn...we already do. Our cognitive mind has gotten in the way with all of these labels and conditions that we have allowed to define our existence, sense of worth, our very being. Somehow along the way, we have begun to believe that we must somehow become "worthy" of love by proving ourselves or earning it-yet our spirits know otherwise. This aching deep within us,this restlessness that makes us feel like something is missing...that is our subconscious mind trying to tell us that we are enough...that we have always been enough. When we can let go of all of those external things that define us and look internally at the amazing spirit that we were given as a gift at birth....then we will feel complete and we will no longer be asking "who am I" We will know that we just "are" and that is enough. Namaste