Who you are…

If you have regrets about something you are doing, or are weary with a particular facet of your personality or beliefs, those actions and those beliefs do not define who you essentially are—even if you may (at times) find it difficult, if not seemingly impossible, to change them. On the other hand, if you consistently exhibit certain behaviors and hold certain beliefs, and you are not conflicted about them, such actions and beliefs do reflect who you essentially are—whether they are positive or negative in nature.

The above observation is independent of the question of whether one should or should not change their ways in any given circumstance based upon where an examined behavior or belief stands relative to the core of who they are. It merely seeks to recognize that there are some characteristics that truly define us, and that the benchmark, as expressed in the aphorism, is one way of distinguishing what those characteristics might be. We can use that information to help us know where we stand in relation to our fellow man and the world.

We of course do not know why we are here. We do not know if there is a reason for our existence, or if there even needs to be a reason. We can only guess. I would like to suggest that considering one’s actions and beliefs in the way described may provide a clue.