People contact me with the burning question Who am I? Many of us are seeking answers to deep questions around our personal identity, especially with all the drastic lifestyle changes brought on by the global pandemic. Personal identity can question the survival of our awareness or consciousness after we die. John Locke, an English philosopher and physician widely regarded as one of the most influential of enlightenment thinkers, believed that a person’s identity is a matter of psychological continuity. His hypothesis was that our sense of self or identity has nothing to do with the body or soul, but is based only on memory and awareness.
Throughout our history as a species, we have tried to answer the question of life after death. There are many hypotheses around consciousness transferred to another body, with part of our identity going along with the exchange. Imagine the knowledge we could retain if only we could remember other lifetimes, or even last year! (tee hee) I have also read hypotheses that suggest consciousness came first in our universe. Would that mean the soul starts with no identity?
So what about memories? If we can’t remember our lives or parts of our childhood, does that interrupt our sense of self? Does that mean that part of us is lost forever? Is a loss of memory an interruption to continuity that leads to the questions Who am I?, Why am I here?, and What is my purpose? Let’s lean into a whisper on the subject to provide some continuity:
Continuity refers to vision, sense of self, patterns, and perception of aspects of life experienced as uninterrupted. The experience of positive, continuous patterns and behavior brings stability and grounding to daily life. Engaging in a practice or routine is the benchmark of good health through predictable patterns of care for the body, mind, and spirit. Where there is stress and chaos, there are interruptions to life and distractions from personal identity. This can cloud self-awareness and embellish consciousness around the sense of self.
Conditions as a child determine the development of one’s personal identity. Developing without some aspects of continuity does not fully support positive growth. Uniformity is calming and allows for the child to add knowledge and skills through the experience of a continuous and predictable pace. Human growth occurs in stages, such as learning to crawl, then stand, then walk prior to being able to run. Each stage of development is enhanced by continuity.
If you are unsure of personal identity, you could have experienced an interruption to life in some form. Suffering an abuse or a trauma, a rejection or abandonment, an injury or an illness, or some form of loss can create inconsistency or a broken pattern in your growth and development. The key is getting back to the routine and practices that support your wellbeing. If you don’t love yourself, how can you expect to show others how to consistently love you?
Awakening is remembering who you are, even if you can’t recall all the details of your life. Consciousness expands with new, positive experiences and new ways of being in the world. Peace comes when any form of separation from love is consciously addressed and eliminated. Getting closer to divine love means getting closer to your own heart – close enough to hear the whispers from spirit on your journey through this precious life you have created.
Bring joy, ease suffering and create beauty, then dance like you mean it!
Blessings, Russell
“Everything science has taught me strengthens my belief in the continuity of our spiritual existence after death. I believe in an immortal soul. Science has proved that nothing disintegrates into nothingness. Life and soul, therefore, cannot disintegrate into nothingness, and so are immortal.” Werner Von Braun
