To broaden one’s sense of self is an expedition, and the journey is as important as the destination. For the destination is the journey and the way we relate to it in our lives. We must move beyond our own limiting beliefs, what it is we think we know, and embrace what is truth.
With this often comes the death of self or the ego, which can be a deeply confronting process. However, by allowing this to happen, we let go of all the identities that we believed defined us, and see ourselves (and everything else) as much broader beings. We become more whole. We move beyond the roles we played and their limitations, understanding they are only a part of who we are. There is nothing wrong with continuing to express ourselves through these roles, but we no longer are restricted by descriptions and exist more vastly as eternal, endless selves — opening more to possibility and freedom that exist in life.
Part of this is accepting language for what it is: a limiting way of expressing and communicating thoughts and emotions to others. We come to understand that our words will undoubtedly be interpreted differently by each person we encounter based on their own framework of beliefs and experiences. We learn not to internalize, overanalyze or take things personally. We understand and let go of the need to be right, explain ourselves, or convince others of our viewpoints as it loses its importance, as our realities are based on our own mind’s projections.
We also dissociate from the stories we once created and the stories others create. Yet, we see the power in the spoken word: the power to create, conjure and destroy, which leads us to no longer desire to take part in destructive speaking patterns. The word becomes a tool to manifest, so we focus on the intentions behind the words we speak, and often this leads to speaking less.
Our ability to create our reality becomes much clearer, and releasing that which no longer serves us in our higher good becomes easier. We accept the changes in our life as necessary for growth and expansion and surrender in the ever-flowing momentum of existence. From this viewpoint, we can see the full spectrum of the cause and effect of our actions and words.
We see that everything is connected and intertwined in a beautiful cycle of ebb and flow, life and death, creation and destruction. We can become aware of our own spiritual authority and recognize that true power comes from compassion, love and equanimity, not control or domination. It is not about controlling the outcomes but our ability to use our consciousness to manifest our desires and be fluid in the directions in which the unforeseen takes us. It’s about cultivating a deep sense of trust and inner peace to navigate the storms, knowing they will lead us to the most beautiful dawns and calm waters.
We find happiness is the gratitude we can feel at any given time, but especially in the times when lessons deliver those pivotal moments in our lives when we know everything is about to change.
So — we change, we grow, we expand. We absorb all the possibilities of the cosmos, and at times, meld with the collective unconscious. Our expansion comes with growing pains that can test our very limits, often being the catalyst to launch us into further metamorphosis, cycling through death energy to our own spiritual rebirth. We lose parts of ourselves along the way. We lose people in our lives along the way, but we attract others on similar journeys to ourselves and we understand, for the first time in our lives, we aren’t alone.
We learn different methods to aid us on our path towards spiritual enlightenment, incorporate practices and open ourselves to the experiences. The experiences are what validate and facilitate our broadening perspective. No amount of research, lecture, or reading could drive us forward. It would be nothing more than theory.
It’s feeling the changes within us and then seeing those changes reflected in our external world before us. It’s the connection we feel to everything around us. It’s the truth in just being. And it is Truth itself. It is seeking the answers and our destiny and finding it all within ourselves.