So…which component of “self” is most important? Is it spirit, mind, or perhaps, body?
Forgive me for busting the judgmental bubble, but I do not believe hierarchy has a place in determining an answer to this question, as the optimal combination will vary for each unique person, throughout their unique life.
Each component of body, mind and spirit is necessary for your ability to survive and thrive in this life. Depending on experiences and circumstances, your essence will inherently differ when compared to everyone else’s, and will inherently differ in each new phase of your life. This is because, despite many current societal beliefs, your natural state is that of a dynamic individual, who is constantly changing.
If you were designed to exist in the same way as everyone else, then what is the point of free will? If you were designed to remain stagnant and unchanged, then what is the point of learning through new experiences? Your self is not a robot. Your self is distinctive and ever changing. Dynamic diversity, rooted in free will and learning, keep your self and those around you, continually expanding, much like the universe you are housed in. The most significant obstacle in optimizing individual and societal expansion is fear.
Fear manifests all around you in the forms of anger, sadness, guilt, insecurity, judgment, etc. One of the most profound ways you can make fear cower in the light of love and free will is by refraining from negative judgment, and focusing on your positive, love-based perceptions.
So often, our society takes a fraction of an individual’s current self, and uses it to judge/label/categorize that person’s entire self, sometimes for the remainder of their life. This is a fear-tactic that limits, restricts and discourages positive development. Some examples:
One thought, decision or action, no matter how impactful, does not represent your entire self. You are dynamic. Carrying around all these labels, rooted in fear, weighs-you-down, making it difficult to move forward and achieve integrity with every aspect of your unique self. Fear of being judged by others in various, compartmentalized “circles” of your life is what discourages integrity of self. Acting through negativity, spawned by fear, is far more restrictive and stressful, when compared to acting through positivity from love. Acceptance, grounded in love, will pave the way for integrity of self.
You possess the power, right now, to perpetuate a truly authentic and loving society by choosing to unconditionally love and accept your whole self, and the whole self of those around you. Your authentic self may not necessarily enjoy all aspects of another person’s whole self; this implies that you are a victim of your own perceptions. The more you unconditionally love and accept each person, while encouraging their positive attributes, and not judging the negative attributes, the more likely they will be to authentically cultivate positivity. Spur positivity by not allowing a person’s fear-based behaviors detract from all of their love-based behaviors.
Forgive me for busting the judgmental bubble, but I do not believe hierarchy has a place in determining an answer to this question, as the optimal combination will vary for each unique person, throughout their unique life.
Each component of body, mind and spirit is necessary for your ability to survive and thrive in this life. Depending on experiences and circumstances, your essence will inherently differ when compared to everyone else’s, and will inherently differ in each new phase of your life. This is because, despite many current societal beliefs, your natural state is that of a dynamic individual, who is constantly changing.
If you were designed to exist in the same way as everyone else, then what is the point of free will? If you were designed to remain stagnant and unchanged, then what is the point of learning through new experiences? Your self is not a robot. Your self is distinctive and ever changing. Dynamic diversity, rooted in free will and learning, keep your self and those around you, continually expanding, much like the universe you are housed in. The most significant obstacle in optimizing individual and societal expansion is fear.
Fear manifests all around you in the forms of anger, sadness, guilt, insecurity, judgment, etc. One of the most profound ways you can make fear cower in the light of love and free will is by refraining from negative judgment, and focusing on your positive, love-based perceptions.
So often, our society takes a fraction of an individual’s current self, and uses it to judge/label/categorize that person’s entire self, sometimes for the remainder of their life. This is a fear-tactic that limits, restricts and discourages positive development. Some examples:
- Should the fact that you were diagnosed (judged/labeled) with ADHD as a child, imply that you are forever disadvantaged and should be made to assimilate with what is considered “normal” in order to be accepted?
- Should the fact that you like to let-loose with your friends on the weekends imply that you are not worthy of your dream job, and cause you to sacrifice or hide that side of your true self in order to adhere to another’s values?
- Does that fact that you were once unsatisfied with your relationship with alcohol, imply that you should always be judged/labeled/categorized as an “alcoholic”? Even though the odds of you guzzling a beer right now may very well be the same as a person who has chosen not to label their relationship; or perhaps the same odds as someone who has never before consumed a beer.
One thought, decision or action, no matter how impactful, does not represent your entire self. You are dynamic. Carrying around all these labels, rooted in fear, weighs-you-down, making it difficult to move forward and achieve integrity with every aspect of your unique self. Fear of being judged by others in various, compartmentalized “circles” of your life is what discourages integrity of self. Acting through negativity, spawned by fear, is far more restrictive and stressful, when compared to acting through positivity from love. Acceptance, grounded in love, will pave the way for integrity of self.
You possess the power, right now, to perpetuate a truly authentic and loving society by choosing to unconditionally love and accept your whole self, and the whole self of those around you. Your authentic self may not necessarily enjoy all aspects of another person’s whole self; this implies that you are a victim of your own perceptions. The more you unconditionally love and accept each person, while encouraging their positive attributes, and not judging the negative attributes, the more likely they will be to authentically cultivate positivity. Spur positivity by not allowing a person’s fear-based behaviors detract from all of their love-based behaviors.
"Wait long enough, and people will surprise and impress you."
-Randy Pausch
Similarly, do not let someone’s actions today dictate how you view them tomorrow. This form of judgment makes people perpetual martyrs of their past, which stifles their ability to move forward. One of the most beautiful truths is that you are constantly changing. Each new phase brings about a new composition of self. Don’t be a martyr to a past you cannot change, or a future you cannot fully-predict. Spur positivity by being your best self, right now.
Self is the integral totality of mind, body and spirit; no one component being “better” than another. Each self is unique, dynamic and ever-changing. Perpetuate your highest self for you and those around you, through sincere acceptance, rooted in love.
Be your beautifully unique self. Be limitless. Be love.
Self is the integral totality of mind, body and spirit; no one component being “better” than another. Each self is unique, dynamic and ever-changing. Perpetuate your highest self for you and those around you, through sincere acceptance, rooted in love.
Be your beautifully unique self. Be limitless. Be love.
