Whose Version of You Are You?
How do we find our authentic self ? On a Saturday afternoon a few weeks ago, a college football coach was being interviewed by a sideline reporter before a game and he made a comment that he was looking for each member of his team to be the “best version of himself”. That is the current catch phrase right now. Authentic self. Best self. “I’m looking to be the best version of myself.” I’ve been hearing this a lot lately.
Someone told me recently, “Oprah has been using that authentic self term for years.” Oprah said, “I had no idea that being your authentic self could make me as rich as I’ve become. If I had, I’d have done it a lot earlier.” But how do we find our authentic self?
Authentic means: genuine, real, bona fide, true, veritable. Where do we find truth? Ourselves? We lie to ourselves more than anyone else. Other people? Humans are human. We make mistakes. We all do. Many times we get it wrong.
I believe that there is only one source for truth. Jesus. He is truth. He is our source of authenticity. We can’t find our “authentic self” without him. He pretty much laid it out for us in this verse:
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
(John 15:5 NLT)
That statement is kind of a bottom line statement. Notice he doesn’t say “without me you may find it a little harder to reach your goals.” He doesn’t say “without me it may take you a little more time to get to where you want to be.” He says “apart from me you can do nothing.” NOTHING. Of course we are free to accept and embrace this idea, or ignore and reject it. It’s our choice. We have freewill.
How Do We Find Our Authentic Self?
My book “Brave the Wave” is the first in a series on the authentic self. The self we were created to be. It is more closely aligned with our spiritual selves. When we are seeking spiritual pursuits, those are supernatural. That is why we need supernatural guidance. We need a standard for truth and wisdom. So we use the bible primarily. In addition, I also use NDEs or near death experiences as an adjunct for two reasons. One, I think they’re fascinating. Two, I believe they are supernatural experiences that can help us discover our authentic selves and they actually serve to point out a “false or socially conditioned self.”
When it comes to true authenticity, we start with our relationship with Jesus. For my own transformation, it began with this verse.
“Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth, but not have a rich relationship with God.”
(Luke 12:21 NLT)
That verse started a ten year journey of discovery, revelation, exciting spiritual experiences and clarity. “Brave the Wave” documents many of these experiences and there are three more books in varying degrees of completion that comprise the Authentic Self series. Those books delve into the topics of purpose, power, passion, pain and fear.
This blog should be called the Rumbling, Stumbling, Tumbling Bumbling Blog, because that describes the author. A rumbling, stumbling, tumbling, bumbling, sinner. I believe there is value in many of the ideas on this blog and in the books to come. This has been a ten year marathon and I’m only on the first leg of the race. Got a long way to go. I hope you want to join me on the journey.
The Trials and Storms Are a Comin’
One important idea is that when it comes to trials, troubles and waves, we all know they’re coming. I repeat this line in “Brave The Wave” several times because I believe it to be true,
A central idea that’s a recurring theme in this book is simple and elementary, but it’s also critical to understanding almost every other principle that’s outlined here. It’s the idea that no matter who you are, or how much money you make, or how smart you are, or what you believe, or what your race or ethnicity is—you’re going to see trials, storms, and tribulations. They come like waves, one after another. Sometimes you can see them coming; sometimes you can’t.
Sometimes we can see the trial or wave coming and we just go underwater and let it pass over our heads. The problem is that we could be missing out on opportunities for growth, wisdom, clarity and a leap or jump towards our authentic self. The self we were created to be. If we can look at these waves and trials as opportunities and sources of power, things begin to change.
Together, we Brave The Wave,
We Ride !!!!
Here is the link to buy Brave The Wave.
The image above is from Clark Little Photography. Here is the link. https://clarklittlephotography.com/