But, a much more important direction is the way inward.
Why inward?
Ridding yourself of conditioning and trauma has an immediate impact on your quality of life. So take the journey inward, get to know yourself better.
Know Yourself,
Temple Apollo in Delphi
7th century BC
- Cicero, Letters to my brother Quintus, (book 111)
'A call for modesty and a sense of measure. That we pursue nothing too big for us or beneath our dignity. ...
Desiderius Erasmus - Adagia p. 119
Greek Armenian philosopher
mystic, writer, composer, and more.
Russian esoteric writer and philosopher,
Gurdjieff was his teacher
If you know yourself ,
then you will also be known,
and you will realize
that you too are a child of the living Father.
But if you do not know yourself, then you are in poverty.
Then you yourself are poverty.
LG03 - translated by Bram Moerland
They gave me a name.
Encouraged me to play tennis. Discouraged to play soccer.
Street dancing was not an option.
They took me on faraway trips and to cultural events.
Motivated me to do especially well in school, which was priority No. 1.
They kept me from becoming a top athlete.
They fed me and taught me how to cook.
They dressed me.
In addition, I was shaped by television, by school, by ....
All outside influences.
But that is not who I am.
I am not the person shaped by someone other than myself.
How do I find that one? How do I get to know myself?
In part, I already know it.
I can know myself better.
In his book "The Shift: Taking Your Life from Ambition to Meaning," describes the shift as moving from an ego-driven, ambition-focused life to one centered on meaning, purpose, and spiritual fulfillment. Here's what he suggests is required to make this shift:
Change in Consciousness: Dyer emphasizes the need for a change in one's consciousness. This involves moving from a state where one is primarily focused on material success and personal gain to a state where the focus is on inner peace, love, and service to others.
Letting Go of Ego: The shift requires releasing the ego's control over one's life. Ego is seen as the part of us that seeks validation, power, and control through external achievements. Letting go of this means valuing inner growth over external accomplishments.
Awareness and Intention: One must become aware of their current state and intentionally decide to move towards a life of meaning. This involves setting new priorities that align with spiritual or soulful values rather than purely materialistic ones.
Living in the Present: Dyer advocates for living in the moment rather than constantly chasing future goals or dwelling on past achievements. This presence helps in recognizing and appreciating the spiritual aspects of life.
Service and Giving: Part of making the shift involves moving towards a life where service to others becomes a central theme. This means finding joy in giving, whether through kindness, time, or resources, without expecting anything in return.
Inner Peace and Love: Cultivating inner peace and unconditional love for oneself and others is crucial. This involves forgiveness, compassion, and understanding, which are seen as tools to transcend ego-driven reactions.
Spiritual Practices: Engaging in practices like meditation, prayer, or any form of spiritual discipline that resonates with the individual can facilitate this shift by connecting one with their inner self or higher power.
Reevaluation of Success: Redefining what success means, from external accomplishments to internal satisfaction and spiritual alignment.
Dyer's philosophy is that this shift is not about abandoning ambition entirely but about reorienting one's life's ambition towards something more profound and fulfilling. It's about finding a balance where personal growth, love, and service become the new measures of success.
Understanding Your True Nature: Dyer often spoke about the importance of recognizing one's spiritual nature or the "soul's purpose" over the ego's desires. This means understanding that you are more than your physical body or your achievements; you are a spiritual being having a human experience.
Self-Reflection: He encouraged practices like meditation, journaling, or simply spending time in silence to reflect on one's thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. This reflection helps in distinguishing between ego-driven actions and those that come from a place of higher consciousness or spiritual alignment.
Letting Go of False Identities: Part of knowing oneself involves shedding the layers of identity constructed by societal expectations, past experiences, or misconceptions about oneself. This peeling away reveals a truer self, one that is inherently connected to all life and not just the individual ego.
Authenticity: Living authentically, according to Dyer, means aligning your life with your true self, which involves listening to and following your inner guidance rather than external validations or pressures.
Dyer's work often intertwines the concept of self-knowledge with spiritual growth, suggesting that truly knowing oneself is about recognizing one's connection to something greater, whether you call it the universe, God, or simply a universal consciousness. This recognition is crucial for making the shift from a life driven by ambition to one enriched by meaning and purpose.
as per GROK
But, a much more important direction is the way inward.
Why inward?
Ridding yourself of conditioning and trauma has an immediate impact on your quality of life. So take the journey inward, get to know yourself better.
Know Yourself,
Temple Apollo in Delphi
7th century BC
The story begins with Ivan's death, where colleagues are more concerned with the benefits his death may bring them than with his actual life or suffering. Through a review of Ivan's life, we see how he takes an unfortunate fall while hanging curtains, leading to a painful, mysterious illness. As his health deteriorates, Ivan is increasingly confronted with the inevitability of his own death, something that those around him prefer to dodge.
Ivan's suffering and his eventual confrontation with his mortality lead to profound introspection. He struggles with the meaning of his life, feeling betrayed by an existence that he believes was shallow and meaningless. In his final days, he finds some comfort with his servant, Gerasim, who cares for him with genuine compassion. Finally, in a moment of enlightenment, Ivan understands that true life consists of compassion and love, and dies with a sense of liberation and compassion for his family.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
The meaninglessness of a superficial life: Tolstoy critiques a life led according to societal expectations without true depth or meaning. Ivan's career and social status are empty without real human connections.
Morality and Authenticity: The story emphasizes the need for an authentic life, one based on love, compassion, and real human relationships rather than the pursuit of status and approval.
Confrontation with death: Tolstoy invites the reader to reflect on death and how it brings the value of life into perspective. Recognizing our mortality can lead to a more meaningful life.
Redemption through insight: Ivan's redemption comes through his recognition of his own faults and the superficiality of his life. This points to the possibility of spiritual and emotional growth even in the final moments of life.
Tolstoy's message is a call for self-reflection, the search for what is truly important in life, and a critique of the way people often live without understanding the essence of their existence.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
Increasing self-awareness, getting to know yourself better and thus awakening can be done in different ways.
Some ways are active (Yang, Male, Doing) and some are passive (Yin, Female, Being)
Yang Active
