Knowing Thyself
by Lana
Allen
We have all
heard the famous adage "Know Thyself" that is
inscribed over the doorway of the Greek temple of Delphi. The
ancient Greeks knew the unexamined life was not worth living.
They knew that the knowledge of self was the key to all other
knowledge. Socrates was asked once why it was that Alcibiades,
who was so brilliant, was so unhappy. Socrates replied,
"Because wherever he goes, Alcibiades takes himself with
him." This is very profound for each of us today.
Have you ever
tried to move to a new city to start again only to find the
same situations following you? Possibly you have had the same
type of co-workers following you from one job to the next, or
maybe you continue to find yourself in the same type of
relationships again and again. There is one ingredient in all
of these scenarios that is the same, YOU!
Taking
Yourself
There is an
old story of a gatekeeper of the city who was sitting outside
the city gates when he was approached by a person entering for
the first time. "How is this city you live in?" he
asked. "Before I answer that, let me ask you how you
found the previous town you visited?" the old gatekeeper
asked. "Oh," the traveler exclaimed "the people
were unfriendly and rude." The gatekeeper replied
"It is amazing but those are the exact words I would use
to describe this town. It would be best to continue on to the
next town." So the traveler went on his way. Later in the
day, the gatekeeper was approached by another traveler looking
for a place to dwell. "Is this a nice city to stay for a
while?" the traveler asked: "How did you find living
in your last town?" the old gatekeeper asked. "The
people were lovely", the traveler said, "kind,
generous, and very friendly." "Well, that is
amazing, for those are the exact words I would have chosen to
describe this town. Please come and dwell with us
awhile", said the gatekeeper. The gatekeeper knew,
wherever we go, we take ourselves with us.
Examine Your
Life
0ne of the
greatest teachers of all time Pythagoras, demanded that his
pupils examine themselves each night and reflect on their
progress. In this way, Pythagoras was teaching his Students to
live an examined life, one which will produce a wealth of
growth and insight. Can you imagine how truly different our
lives would be if we took time every night to examine
ourselves? By asking reflective questions of ourselves, it
will deepen awareness of self and others. Questions such as:
Did I listen to my children? Was I loving to my mate? Did I
give my all at work? Have I been over critical of another or
myself? Did I pay attention to what I was thinking then or was
I on automatic pilot? Was I honest with myself and others? Did
I leave a situation angry? These questions will help you
become more self-responsible.
Unfortunately,
many of us spend time every night examining lives -- but
rarely our own. Too often we do not take the time or energy in
relationships to examine what part we played in creating
situations and circumstances. Instead, we spend an immense
amount of time figuring out the other people involved. It is a
waste of time figuring out others because the only person you
can change or accept is yourself.
When I counsel
someone, they usually begin by telling me what is wrong in
their outer life, with their spouse, children, or job. They
want to 'fix' one of these people or situations. I always turn
the session back to the person I am counseling with 'because
life is always an inside job'.
What Are You
Creating?
If certain
scenarios show up in your life repeatedly, it is time to
examine what part you are playing in creating these
situations. For instance, a woman might be attracting the same
type of abusive relationships into her life. If she never ask
herself why, if she never examines herself to ascertain in
what way the abuse is serving her, she will continually seek
and find these kind of men.
When we begin
to examine our lives we will find strength-weakness,
wisdom-ignorance, love-hate, joy-sadness, wellness-sickness,
peace-chaos, spirit-matter. In some areas, we will be in
balance and others we will not. However, what an examined life
gives us is a road map so that we can watch out for the holes
in the road. When we see situations that begin to look
negatively familiar, we can say no immediately before we fall
in the hole again.
Know Who You
Are
Let us not
forget that we are more than human beings with human
frailties. Each of us has a spiritual being within as well.
Wherever we go, we take this spiritual self. Yet, if we never
take time to exercise this part of self we might not know it
exist. All of us have muscles in our bodies but if we have not
been exercising them we might not be aware of them at all.
Knowing your spiritual self requires the exercising your
spiritual muscle. Take time to meditate and to ask for
direction from your spiritual self. Ask for healings, wisdom,
love, and even to know more about the human aspect of your
personality that is causing you to fall in those holes.
Each of us is
multi-faceted. Just as a crystal reflects many colors when the
light shines on it, so, too, do we shine when light is put on
those parts of ourselves that are hidden. I have found in my
quest to know myself, that I am many selves. I am not perfect.
There are some areas of my life that I still do not accept
very easily, and other areas that are still hidden from my
self-examination (denial). Yet, I don't fall in nearly so many
holes and my life is much more balanced. I now take time to
meditate, to become aware of feedback, and to review each day
so that I will know myself.
 Recommended
book:
The
Healing of Emotion: Awakening the Fearless Self
by Chris Griscom
Info/Order this book
About The
Author
Rev. Lana Allen is an
ordained Unity Minister in Colorado. For more info on Unity Churches,
visit http://unityworldhq.org.
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