Finding The REAL Me. Who Is The REAL You?

by vicone
3 replies
The cartoon character, "The Hulk", also the subject of several movies, depicts an inner self that is immensely powerful, aggressive and destructive. The sense of a powerful inner self has long been the subject of stories, books, and movies. The portrayal was of an "inner me" that was fearsome, savage, and far from noble. Many have felt that this inner being was dangerous and possibly beyond control if allowed to emerge.

A classic story that made use of this interpretation is "Dr Jeckyll and Mr Hyde", by Robert Louis Stevenson. Likewise, there are many legends and movies based on werewolves and vampires. Emile Zola also explored aspects in his novel, "The Beast In Man", and Sigmund Freud offers us a concept known as the Id. According to the British Concise Encyclopedia:

"The id is the source of instinctual impulses such as sex and aggression as well as primitive needs that exist at birth. It is entirely nonrational and functions according to the pleasure-pain principle, seeking immediate fulfillment of its impulses whenever possible."

However, another trend has emerged that portrays our inner being in more heroic terms. When the mild-mannered reporter, Clark Kent, removes his glasses and outer garments he emerges as...?

Modern media hasn't been slow to see entertainment value in heroic super potential. Think of Bewitched, Buffy, and the Charmed ones. With "X-Men" and the TV series "Heroes" we now see beings with a huge assortment of genetically enhanced super powers.

Historically, there have been others who portray these inner senses positively. An example is religious ecstasy. Perhaps the best known depiction of this is the sculpture by Bernini of "The Ecstasy of St Theresa", which is located in the Cornaro Chapel in Rome. St Theresa had described a state of ecstatic rapture in which she floated on air. Experiences involving expanded spiritual awareness, visions and euphoria have been reported by many people.

It seems that these extreme or "fuller" experiences can also be -

"...deliberately induced using a variety of techniques, including prayer, religious rituals, meditation, breathing exercises, physical exercise, sex, music, dancing, sweating, fasting, thirsting, and the consumption of psychotropic drugs." (Wikipedia)

There is also an approach to the inner self which has practical, every day application and is easily accessible to us all. This involves developing a connection with or awareness of deeper positive feelings. Let's consider two simple exercises:

For the first, just close your eyes and focus on the feelings within your body. As you notice attention to thoughts, don't bother analyzing or directing those thoughts, just shift your attention and return to what you are feeling. After while, you'll notice a deep sense of calm, peace and well-being. This is also common to most meditation techniques but the aim here is to experience those feelings and that sense of well-being. It also provides practice in consciously shifting attention at will.

Consider that, in the absence of thought, your body experiences positive feelings. There is no animosity or murderous rage in the absence of thought. What you are experiencing is your core inner self, and it feels good. In the absence of anxiety, which would be triggered by thought, you feel an inner strength. As well, those feelings are not dependent on the approval, goodwill, or behavior of another. You have access to them at any time and can restore calm by stilling thought and simply looking within to those feelings of well-being and inner peace.

Treat this as making an inner connection. It puts us in touch with our own inner strength and happiness and the experience is available to us whenever we take a moment to make that contact.

For a second exercise, we'll introduce controlled thought. Again, close your eyes and imagine an appealing fantasy involving great success. It could involve you brilliantly recording a 3 minute mile at an athletic meet; hitting a baseball out of the ball park; making millions on the internet; winning an Academy Award ("...and I wish to thank..."); winning a stack of Olympic Gold Medals; being pursued by incredibly beautiful/handsome prospective partners, etc. You get the idea.

Ponder the feelings generated by those appealing situations. You feel a sense of inner power. Note the feeling of empowerment. Pay attention to other related feelings that have been aroused - elation, excitement, joy, enthusiasm, and so on. Consider, too, that these feelings are readily available to us - we can easily access them in a quiet moment and they will often spill over into our normal lives.

What do these exercises show us?

1. There is no need for us to depend on others in order to feel good. We have within ourselves access to peace and happiness that does not require additional approval though, when received, can be enjoyable and reassuring, but not essential in order to feel validated. When we look outward for validation from others, we surrender power over our lives to them and we find ourselves endlessly trying to influence opinions, hoping to gain approval. Inner awareness reduces much stress, anxiety and depression.

2. Whilst prosperity offers comfort and increased opportunities, it is not essential to feelings of contentment and inner harmony.

3. A feeling of inner well-being is the norm. In the absence of thought, our inner feelings are not turbulent but calm and strong.

4. The feelings of inner power and strength that are available to us can be channeled towards objects of desire. By focusing attention and MAINTAINING THE CONTACT with thoughts that are in harmony with our wants, we'll be energized and impelled towards them. The decisions and choices we make based on thoughts consistent with success, along with focused action, help to shape the world we experience - the results we receive.

5. We are creators of our lives - either consciously or by default.

That is the real me. Who is the real YOU - Hulk, Hyde, Hero...or?

Ivan
#finding #real
  • Profile picture of the author lilmechante01
    It is an interesting "coincidence" (which I don't believe anything is really a coincidence anymore ) that you posted this the day after I was just reflecting on and writing about the topic.

    Before, I respond to "who is the REAL me", I'm going to play devil's advocate for a sec and share a thought I had about online communities/membership sites/chat rooms, etc.

    Think about anything you see/read or anyone you interact with via your computer--which is basically just displaying bits & chunks of data in the form of images, words, et al. Also, think about how many people use pen names & ghostwriting (no offense intended to anyone ). So..here's my question...Can we really prove that what we see/read or anyone we interact with are REALLY real...or are they just projections of our thoughts that create their existence?
    A thought from Deepak Chopra: You are neither the choice nor the interpretation, but the source of both.:rolleyes:

    Who is the REAL me? I enjoy deep-level thinking so I'm going to have FUN with this

    I am the mirror of all the qualities I find attractive and repelling in others. I am self-referred, love-based, and accepting of what is--thankful that GOD made me just like I am. I have good and bad things--I have all things in me. I am shadow/light, pleasure/pain, chaos/harmony--all opposing energies, and with that a field of all possibilities. I am ambiguous and contradictory--I am complete.

    I AM a role-player, but I AM NOT the roles I play. When I'm on here, I play the role of member. I play an infinity of roles: daughter, mother, girlfriend, lover, author, webmistress, musician, dancer, internet marketer, teacher, student, and the list of roles continues...BUT, "I" am none of these roles I play. I am the silent witness, observer who plays these roles, gratefully, lovingly, and passionately.

    There is a Vedic saying: "I am not in the world; the world is in me. I am not in the body; the body is in me. I am not in the mind; the mind is in me. Body, mind, and world happen to me as I curve back within myself and create them." Adding a verse from Rumi: "I have lived on the lips of insanity, wanting to know reasons, knocking on a door. The door opens. I've been knocking from the inside."

    I am the creator, producer, director, and actor, door knocker, and door answerer.

    "The whole universe exists inside you; ask all from yourself." ~Rumi

    We are the ones who impose limitations on ourselves. Deepak Chopra makes a good point in regards to self-bondage we get can get caught up in: "Boundaries and beliefs are nothing more than ideas or concepts that we have committed to and accepted as a truth... (and become) the prison walls we inadvertently construct around ourselves."

    Who is the REAL me? I am the universe--moving, breathing, smelling, observing, tasting, feeling, hearing, experiencing, expressing, flowing, and playing itself out through ME.
    Namasté
    bj
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    I CHOOSE to re-create MYSELF anew every single moment and experience the GRANDEST VERSION of the GREATEST VISION I have about WHO I AM!
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    • Profile picture of the author vicone
      Love it, BJ.

      You've challenged me with your new location of Leela.

      I'm sure readers are aware that it is also the name of the primary female character in the animated television series Futurama, although you don't appear to be as one-eyed.

      Leela was also a leading character in the Dr Who series. She was a companion of the Fourth Doctor and a regular in the program from 1977 to 1978. According to Wikipedia:

      "...she was also highly intelligent, grasping advanced concepts easily and translating them into terms she could cope with. Despite the Doctor's attempts at "civilizing" her, however, Leela is strong-willed enough to continue in her savage ways. She usually dresses in animal skins, armed with a knife or a set of poisonous Janis thorns which she does not hesitate to use on people who threatened her..."

      Leela was also the name of the lead in the American movie "Leela":

      "...a film about the identity crises experienced by South-Asian Indians living in the United States. Dimple Kapadia stars in the titular role of Leela, a self-confident professor at the University of Bombay." The movie deals with events that follow after she is offered a chance to come to California to work as a visiting professor.

      More likely though is this quote from Deepak Chopra:

      "...What we have instead is Leela, the play of creation. Which on the surface seems like an empty, aimless concept. After all, every society vastly prefers work to play. Yet in what way is dancing without purpose? To exhibit grace and beauty is a purpose. So is holding your balance while moving. So is organizing your limbs with control and skill. So is keeping centered and focused on what you are doing.

      If you can accept that a dance has purpose, then Leela turns out to be the connection between the Absolute (Shiva) and manifestation (Shakti), between eternal, silent, unmoving, unqualified Being and the universe of becoming, with its infinite diversity. Leela isn't doing a brainless seductive dance. There is balance, organization, centeredness, etc. Which is what the word "design" implies once we take it beyond the simplistic notion of a tinkering God who sits in a workshop making the universe the way a cobbler makes shoes.

      Indians love the concept of seeing creation as a dance between Shiva and Shakti. "

      Bluerailroad Magazine - Columns; Deepak Chopra

      She's playing with us, folks!

      Personally, I prefer the second source above.


      Ivan
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      • Profile picture of the author lilmechante01
        Oh my, you are soooo perceptive ;-) Yes, the quote from Deepak Chopra does refer to my location of Leela. I especially like the "Leela isn't doing a brainless seductive dance.":p "Let your body dance with the universe. Let go of all constriction and tightness in your consciousness so that your body can relax into the rhythms of the universe...The more you dance with the universe, the more joy, vitality, energy, creativity, synchronicity, and harmony you will experience."~Deepak

        I'm impressed, and you are adored

        Bu...I admit it...I have a mischievous side too, so I guess the second source could also be befitting



        What do YOU think?

        Just kidding darlin', here's my leela
        Signature
        I CHOOSE to re-create MYSELF anew every single moment and experience the GRANDEST VERSION of the GREATEST VISION I have about WHO I AM!
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