Station Eleven: “Survival is Insufficient.”

Station Eleven: Survival is InsufficientWe often read fiction as a form of escape, but I recently read a novel that was both entertaining and enlightening. Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel speaks to choices we make in life and the impact they have.

The main character, Kirsten, was just a child when a deadly flu killed 99% of the world’s population in a matter of days. She survived by hiding in her home with her brother until the contagion had passed. When they finally ventured into the world, she carried with her a comic book and the memory of the famous actor who gave it to her. The object and the memory remained with her for decades, shaping her life. Continue reading

Life is a Journey to Your True Self: Creating Goals

868_resize

Now that you have compiled all this information about yourself, you can begin to identify your deepest values, core beliefs, passions and motives. The true self is made up of these things.

Life is a journey worth taking. To make the trip enjoyable, you need to create goals that come from your true self. The goals you set become the compass for your life. Not all goals are accomplished, but they still lead you forward in your life. Continue reading

Find Your True Self by Listen to Your Life Events

iphone 037abIn last week’s blog, we looked at events in your past and how they led to the development of a false self. This week, we are going to take a look at your present. The purpose of this blog is to help you “see” your life so you can find your true self.

We will begin to determine what feels good and satisfying to you. We also need to identify things in your life that contribute to feeling bad about yourself, and that prevent you from finding your true self. We will use this information as well as what you discovered last week to create a more satisfying life. Continue reading

The False Self as Witness

IMG_4048In the previous post,we asked the question,”Do you know your true self?” Today, let’s take a closer look at what the false self is, and how it develops.

As human beings, we need a witness: a person to see what we do and feel, and to reflect back to us. That enables us to put words to our experiences, making it possible to give meaning to our lives. As we mature, the external witness is incorporated into the self, creating the ability to give meaning from the inside. Continue reading