Core of Who We Are

I have been thinking a lot lately about what makes me me, or should I say what makes us who we are. What lies at the core of our being that guides us to be and do the things that make up what others see and experience through us.

Our behavior, actions, words, attitudes, mannerisms, the way we hold ourselves, the people we hang around or surround ourselves with, the jobs we have, the people we date, the way we dress, the things we have in our possession, the way we talk (our language or quality of), etc...

All those things and more reveal different aspects of who we are. So what is it that influences the choices we make? The actions we take in different circumstances, the behaviors we expose to those around us all come from somewhere.

I think one of the things we need to try to understand is what is at the core of who we are? How can I explain this. I think I will try from a Faith stand point. Let me try this.

Religion at its heart is a handful of rules that you need to abide by in order to satisfy the said denomination or church if you will, to be a said member or associate. You follow their beliefs and you fit in. You are in essence a member of the said group. Your behaviors will line up with that. I know I simplified it big time. Please don't take offence.

Faith on the other hand has at its core a trinity of values that bypasses rules or obligations. It is at its core the following: Forgiveness, Grace, Mercy. You have this at the core of your belief system then all else falls into place. There is no obligation, no rule you have to follow, no title or membership you have to belong to. It is a core belief, a inner guide to what you do in life, not because you have to but because you WANT TO.

That is what is called faith. A faith in a God that offers those very things to those that love Him. OK, I may have ruffled some feathers, please hear me out. Faith or belief that is born out of love will behave differently then something that is forced or pressed upon you to do. Your actions and behaviors will be seen differently, noticed and received by others with an acceptance or lack of by the reasons we do things.

I have simplified it to a basic level, and it is this that is what I am trying to achieve. If we can simplify ourselves in how we look at it then we have a better chance to understand ourselves, who we are and why we do the things we do. In this we can understand others better not only our self.

You see that what we do we do for a reason whether known or unknown. A saying is this "We believe therefore we Do". What is a relationship that has no love in it? One that will die or end eventually. But one that has love in it will last because the difference is a want and desire than an obligation. At the core of who we are is a want and a desire to be who we are. We may not like what we see at times but never the less it is there.

I want to know to a degree why I am the way I am. I know some out there just don't really care to know those things. But what I am after in life is an understanding to the human nature, my human nature in why I choose the way I do, why I act the way I do in order to make myself a better person. In this I will achieve my hearts desire, not for someone else but for me. I feel that it is a life quest. So here I write to act as a guide to my inner thoughts to expose in print what is stirring on the inside.

I believe there is a greatness in all of us, a greatness that can be exposed if we choose to search for it, a purpose that is greater than what we know, one that will make others better around us. This is what I search for.

I know I bring up pieces of faith in my writings because it is a core part of who I am. I am not against or look down to anyone of different beliefs than me. A person chooses their own way for their own reasons. It is these reasons that I seek to understand. What makes us different but the same.

This is a thought I will continue to write in the next installment..........
A work in progress.
James