Day 37 Loss Part 3 Loss of Identity

One of the saddest losses in life is the loss of self and who we were created to be. To lose one’s true identity and to then try and live as someone false can too be one of the most painful of losses. However, many don’t even realise this loss. All they know is that they have never been able to find self acceptance or contentment as they are, but have often blamed others or life’s circumstances for this. But in truth, they have lost parts of themselves along the way. How can they find those lost parts of themselves again? Do they have to retrace their steps back through their lives to discover where they got lost, in the hope of finding them again? For some, this works and as they go back, they get insightful glimpses into all they lost and then were once more able to find. However, for many others, the best way to regain one’s identity is not to go back but to go forward. Each day, the world around us is sending us messages about who we are. Some are false messages and some are true. We often look to others to tell us who we are, but the two best people who truly know our identity is the one who created us and ourselves. Therefore, in order to begin our journey of rediscovering our true identity, we need to listen to God and we need to listen to ourselves. For those who don’t believe in God, believe in life all around you and learn to listen to what she is helping reveal to you. Learn to discern when you feel your heart coming alive and really beginning to beat. What are the things that bring you to life and what are the things that shut you down? Who are the people who nurture, take care of you and value you and who are those who use you or discard you when they are finished with you? What do you look forward to? Who are your heroes and why? What are your happy places? What were the dreams you dreamt of as a child? If you could do one thing of real worth before you die, what would that be? Learn to watch yourself and listen to yourself. Regain your true seeing and hearing.

Take care of the small child within you. Reconnect with her or him and learn to listen to their playfulness and childlike fun and inquisitiveness and sense of adventure and exploring. That part of yourself hasn’t been forever lost. It’s just that he or she was put away in a room when you were being trained to be more serious and responsible. Do not believe that there is nothing of worth to find in you. We are incredibly complex wonders. Learn about the biology of the human being and be in awe at all you are capable of. Dare to crawl out of your comfy places and once more lie under the night sky and look up at the stars and remember that you are on a floating ball in the middle of an incredibly complex and astounding universe and galaxy.

As you do that, you will at first feel so small. However, then gradually you will begin to realise that you are a part of something so much bigger and more amazing than anything you could ever be on your own. That thought alone will bring you back to life, as one awoken from a cardiac arrest. With that first breath of recovery, you will want to really begin living like you never have before. You will continue learning more about life and she will reflect to you more and more of your uniqueness which only you can bring to the world. Eventually you will discover that your life was never random or by chance but was planned and created by a force of love who loved you into being. Then your world will once more grow and be transformed and you will never look back to the old you and yearn for him or her. You will have discovered the real you and will never again want to waste living a false life but only one which honours all the truths you have found. Your loss will have turned into a gain. Your loss will lead to a new life being found. It will be a full, meaningful, satisfying, replete life which no one will ever be able to take from you ever again.

What are the things that bring you to life and what are the things that shut you down?

Who are the people who nurture, take care of you and value you and who are those who use you or discard you when they are finished with you?

What do you look forward to?

Who are your heroes or heroines and why?

What are your happy places?

What were the dreams you dreamt of as a child?

If you could do one thing of real worth before you die, what would that be?

Dare to crawl out of your comfy places and once more lie under the night sky and look up at the stars and remember that you are on a floating ball in the middle of an incredibly complex and astounding universe and galaxy.