Whosoever knows others is clever. Whosoever knows himself is wise.
Lao Tzu

What is the difference between authority and authentic? And how can knowing this difference give you a clear sense of direction, purpose, and joy in life?

When I first began experimenting with listening to my "authentic" self, I wasn't quite sure how I would know if I heard it. Like many of us, I had grown up in a climate of millions of messages from parents, school teachers, experts, friends, books, TV and media. An hour didn't seem to go by without hearing an authoritative message regarding my next decision or behavior, and the messages would play over and over in my head, even when the "authority" wasn't around.

I had grown familiar with the hallmark tone of an 'authoritative' message: it had a certain force to it, and was constructed in absolutes. I assumed that my authentic self would talk to me in a tone bigger, badder, louder and more absolute than those messages I got from everyone else. I waited for the chorus of angels and big voice from the sky...

Then during my study of communication, I noticed that messages with "proper" authoritative tone came in only two basic styles:

1. No/Don't (as in "no parking" "don't litter" "don't talk in the movies," "that is the wrong way,"...) or,

2. Buy ("cantaloupes for 1.09," "Dunkin Donuts are better" "drink milk,"  "this will help,"...)

Still I waited to be told what to do loudly and with great force, and sometimes bemoaned my apparent lack of Authentic Self.  And then I began to notice a third basic type of message, and things began changing:

3. Directive ("listen to your heart" "exit 7A on right" "click here")

Even more importantly, I noticed that there were just a few places that this type of message came from:

1. an external source (such as media, person, book, etc.)
2. internal source--memory (my grandfather said to...)
3. internal source--reason (if this, and that, then next is...)
4. internal source--unattributed

Internal and unattributed is the place to listen for your authentic self...

 

Next time we'll talk a little about honing in using discernment.

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Copyright 2001, 2002 by Elizabeth Mullen. All rights reserved. May be duplicated or quoted for personal  use only with complete copyright information intact. Any other use, contact the author for permission. www.elizabethmullen.com

There is a reason for this. I can only truly offer motivation and inspiration as it has worked specifically for me, in my life.

The story of coming to an understanding is possibly even more important than the "magic bullet" technique or concept that serves as the topic. And I will try to highlight the mechanic of the principal at work if I can-- so you can see it and use it where appropriate for you...

What I hope for you is that you take from these articles only what is useful for you in creating a good and fulfilling life for yourself, and leave the rest on the screen just as they are: characters projected on a light source.

Each of our journey's is surely unique... though I hope that I might share a few principals about how one traverses any course...

kind of like sharing the concept of "walking stick" to someone who might be weary...

Blessings,