SOUL EFFECT: IDENTITY
Modern people find solace in labeling themselves from first and last names to the type of food consumed to sexual preference then ‘identifying’ with these labels as if it were an actual appendage. A multitude of external factors might fulfill these identifiers- behavior, career, family, economics, education, appearance, culture, religion, language, clothing, ethnicity, values, customs, rituals, mythology and heritage- until one becomes so pigeon holed that there is no seeming escape. Lifestyle is defined by relationships, economics, heritage, genetics, religious persuasion, political affiliation, physical prowess, mental acuity, societal norms, family values, socialization skills, educational background, community beliefs, national origins, customs and environmental influences. Because these categories are intertwined and become part of a way of life, it is nearly impossible to distinguish which behavior, ideal or belief is rooted in any one cause.
To unravel the significance, subtle yet indistinguishable, is effective in transforming the national dialogue. During these economic times, loss of finance can become a ‘loss of identity’ if material objects, success and career are the measuring instruments. If “I am who I am” because of the size of my home, the type of vehicle driven or the style of clothing worn, when these items disappear so does ‘self-worth’. If “I am who I am” because I identify with being a wife, mother, daughter and divorce, death or alienation separate me from these relationships, I do not know me and lose my bearing possibly becoming depressed, tired and withdrawn. If I identify with my career, position or wealth and lose it, my self-esteem is gone. If I identify with success every time I pursue something and fail, I lose self-motivation and self-assurance. The identity of a nation consumed with material objects, power, fame, fortune, being noticed or heard, is on a course for self-destruction.
The measurement standard for ‘true identity’ is the internal search for personal truth, surrendering to the soul’s purpose, welcoming challenges, pain and tests as tools for growth, signals for movement and steppingstones to character development and accepting that all relationships are a reflection of some aspect of the self (shadow, dark side or good) to be recognized, honored and embraced as the inner workings of the human ‘being’ not the human ‘becoming’. Personal Identity in the Western World must be transformed from the inside out.
ECONOMICS AS IDENITIFIER: CIVIL SERVANT OR PROFESSIONAL
Is a ‘teacher’ a professional or a civil servant? Individuals are expected to achieve professional degree status but then are treated like public servants. Here is an identifying example of the obvious incongruities: many years ago, a Republican administration decided that ‘public servants’ or individuals working as governmental employees, should be offered salaries LESS than their counterparts in the private sector. The underlying reason for this was to keep government small and manageable, allow private industry to flourish, for the government never to be too powerful (as the best and brightest would NEVER consider working for less money in government than in the private sector). For example, by the age of retirement, a government lawyer would be making a low six figure income of $150,000 while a fresh college graduate working in the private sector would START at this salary. Government employees are considered by many as ‘servants’ of the people. Does this make governmental employees ‘the bottom of the barrel’ with less intelligence, less motivation to work and perform than the private sector counterpart? Why would any young, bright, intelligent person be motivated to become a government employee (except for some moral, personal passion or crusade)? This economic disparity has led governmental employees to suppliment their income by less ethical means: looking the other way on oversight, accpeting bribes, being wined and dined, accpeting supplimental monies that cannot be traced. The identifying factor in a world that considers the material, financial benefits more promising would find a way to be employed by the private sector. The President of the United States makes less than an executive at a bank or corporation and has a multitude more responsibilities!!!!!1
With IDENTITY, one must find a center of personal truth. What is our centricity? Are we egocentric, heliocentric, holocentric, phallocentric, geocentric, Amerocentric, Eurocentric, eccentric, holocentric, ethnocentric, polycentric? The key to life is to be centered in the ‘sacred’ or Sacrecentric®© or sacrecentric, finding the sacred within ourselves as the compass and guide.
Lifetime Identifiers LI includes SOME of the following:
Behavioral Identity – Action, Manners, Deeds, Conduct, Demeanor, Disposition
Career Identity – Occupation, Profession, Vocation, Trade
Community Identity – Neighbors, Friends, Organizations, Town, City
Cultural Identity – Religion, Tradition, Language, Education, Race
Economic Identity – Finances, Capitol, Possessions
Educational Identity – Degrees, Certificates, Training, Study
Environmental Identity – Surroundings, Habitat, Setting
Genealogical Identity – Birthing Practices; Parenting, Birth Order
Gender Identity – Male, Female, Bi-sexual, Gay
Global Identity – Universal, International, Worldwide\
Ideological Identity – Principles, Beliefs, Opinions, Methodologies
Lifestyle Identity – Values, Attitudes, Habitudes
National Identity – State, Country, Nation
Personal Identity – Body, Mind, Spirit, Emotion
Perceptual Identity – Senses, Smell, Taste, Touch, See, Hear
Political Identity – Government, Laws, Policy
Religious Identity – Religions, Dogma
Social Identity – Society, Politics, Civilized
Spiritual Identity – Sacred, Holy, Divine, Non-physical
Mother Theresa has been quoted as saying:
Life is an opportunity, benefit from it
Life is beauty, admire it.
Life is bliss, taste it.
Life is a dream, realize it.
Life is a challenge, meet it.
Life is a duty, complete it.
Life is a game, play it.
Life is costly, care for it.
Life is wealth, keep it.
Like is love, enjoy it.
Life is a mystery, know it.
Life is a promise, fulfill it.
Life is sorrow, overcome it.
Life is a song, sing it.
Life is a struggle, accept it.
Life is a tragedy, confront it.
Life is an adventure, dare it.
Life is luck, make it.
Life is too precious, do not destroy it.
Life is life, fight for it.
How do we find ourselves, hear our souls and follow our hearts in the mire of these influences of labeling, defining and boundaries? After all, we ARE all human, animate, active/passive human ‘beings’.