22

be who you are.

knowing what you like is not the same as knowing what you want; having preferences is not a desire. doing the practical things that need to be done in your life each day is not the same as being who you are. what you came here to do is probably not what anyone outside of you would consider to be “practical.” we are looking instead for “necessary.” it is not practical for the statue to be found inside a block of marble; it is necessary.

“be who you are” happens in three parts: [1] be where who you are can thrive, [2] do what you need to do to thrive, and [3] keep going in that direction. you have to find the right environments where you can do what you need to do, and grow into more of you, not less of you.

because we are always in motion, because we represent and because everything around us is experienced as a divine unfolding, being faithful to ourselves includes finding out what you can’t help but do. here’s a hint: it’s already been happening this whole time, especially if you have been somehow trying to stop or discourage yourself from doing it. the answer is inside of you. you’ll admit it to yourself after you’ve lived enough life and sat in enough silence. that’s the digging. it’s in there deep. there’s no treasure sitting at the surface. you don’t find diamonds in the topsoil.

and you might never understand it, even as you are compelled in that direction. you don’t have to understand your life to live it well. people don’t have to understand you to love you.