Are you what you think? What you post?

Mark Brown (Antigua)-Original Painting Entitled: "Angels and Demons"

Who are you?

Social constructs in the west encourage us to categorize ourselves as “who you identify as". But this can change. Philosophical as well as biological foundations of who you are can be in conflict with the metaphysical question of "who am I?" It can be quite confusing.

It's intended to be. If you are lost, vulnerable and confused-you are easier to mislead, tempt and control. The agendas for society today-on a global scale-all point to “control” of who you are, who you aspire to be and how you act. Groupthink and conformity to the “accepted” types and narratives is encouraged. Independent and original thought and action…is actively discouraged and often censored.

From a chemical/biological viewpoint-you are made up of elements, the most prevalent being H2O (water-hydrogen and oxygen).  Each day you add nutrients which can enhance your body or actually degrade your bodily systems. 

What you breathe in also affects your functioning-whether you are fortunate enough to breathe clean air or varying levels of polluted air, depends on where you live and work. 

 
Your environment can physically constrict and even damage you. Your health may be strained because of extremes of altitude, temperature, humidity or aridity, electrical magnetic pulses bombarding you, and/or excessive noise. You may not have enough healthy food or necessary medication. You may be subjected to violence and oppression.

Or you may be fortunate enough to live in relative freedom, have the necessary means and financial security that you never have to worry about getting what you need in your life. A pristine, natural landscape may enhance your well being on a physical, emotional and even a spiritual plane.

However, the thoughts, media saturation and emotional atmosphere you are subjected to daily, are also inputs which have the ability to change you. The types of information/propaganda you are subjected to can mold you permanently into an unrecognizable version of your "self". 

Social media platforms, peer pressure, advertising all permeate most living spaces.  You may find being inauthentic is the only way you can fit into society. You may unconsciously be emulating media personalities and "famous" people-in order to be accepted-to be validated.  Perhaps your voice imitates other’s voices, vocabulary becomes rote instead of spontaneous. Are you "them" or "you" now?

Comparing ourself to others has become an international pastime on social media. “Trends” nudge us into thoughts and behavior we might never have tried before. We are influenced more than we realize. We grapple in cyberspace to have attention focused on our “accounts”. Have you become a caricature of yourself after posting hundreds of posed images on social media platforms? 

Lies can become automatic and persuasive if you let them linger. It is too easy to remain unconscious. You may no longer know what the truth is. It takes effort to peel back the veils and become conscious. To find out who you really are. Your authentic you.

Posing can be satisfying for only so long.  Are you constantly thinking about what to "post" instead of being in the moment of the actual activities you engage in, by yourself or with others? Do you remember the pic/video clip...more than the real experience?   

In the privacy and stillness of being with only your own thoughts are you able to check in and reveal who you really are...today, this week, this year, this decade-this lifetime. 

Such a quest takes great care and deep courage. No one else can do it for you. Someone who loves you may be a support, a motivator..but only you know the truth. No one else ever really knows your inner landscape.

Look into the face of another human being and exchange words and breath instead of texts and pics. Reclaim your individual identity apart from any “group”.

The virtual world is an illusion.  Commercial interests want to lure you into the “meta verse” and keep you dwelling there. Resist. Step off the social media platforms for a time, and without comparison-find out what you uniquely-think and value. You will have an answer to the question, “Who are you?” “Who am I?”