Who are we?

I was browsing through a website where people ask each other random questions, when I stumbled upon an automated question directed towards me. The question was, “Who are you?” It was a simple question that left me bewildered, dazed and confused.

The day you were born, you were stamped with an identity having many different aspects. Your identity consists of your name, you caste, the place to which you belong. It includes your parents, your ancestors, where you live, and a host of other things; yet nothing that reveals who you really are. The most difficult task therefore, is to describe yourself as you really are. Sit back and think for a moment. Lift yourself from your worldly commitments and take a step back to describe yourself. Who are you? What is the purpose of your existence? What have you been doing for all these years and what do you plan on doing the next moment? Have you ever introspected deep enough to discover the truth that lies hidden within you? Have you ever tried to understand what makes you genuinely happy? And what is it that is the cause of your sadness? What do you love about the world and what is the one thing you would change?

The truth is that we are all so engrossed in our daily routines, so caught up in the rush of the world around us that we fail to comprehend the real purpose of our life. So ensnared are we in the tangle of our busy lives that somewhere in the process, we forget who we really are.

It is absolutely essential to understand the inner self and the purpose of this existence. Because without this comprehension we keep on pursuing our insatiable desires, desires that see no end. We are caught in a vicious circle that takes us further away from the truth about our own selves. It is only when we understand ourselves that we can find a direction in life; and it is the discovery of this purpose that imparts true happiness.

You were born for a purpose. You have to carve your own destiny by being the best that you can be in every aspect of life. Misunderstanding yourself robs you of the true happiness that comes from self-discovery.

You are who you want to be. You are an individual; a unique individual. Live for others, but not according to others. Find your own happiness, that which truly satisfies your instincts. In the twilight of life when you remember all the phases of your life and your accomplishments; it is the fact that you were able to discover and unleash yourself that will make you truly happy knowing that you’ve lived up to your potential. And that joy is absolutely priceless.