Authentic Living

THE most important thing we can come to know in life is who we really are. But most of us have not been taught to know that person. Yes, we can look in the mirror and see ourselves, but most of us are looking at ourselves through what we perceive to be the image others have of us. Indeed, most of us have introjected a projection placed upon us by parents, and later others, who unconsciously need us to carry their projections for them. And since, as very young children, we need so badly to belong in our families of orgin, we just as unconsciously take on the roles that have been assigned to us in this way. In fact, because of this innate need to belong, we have no capacity to say "no" to these projections. And so, we identify with the roles we have introjected. But who are we really? Many of us do not even begin to ask that question until we have encountered a circumstance so difficult that the old way of living just cannot be lived any longer. And then we say, "I don't even know who I am anymore." But it is p