Self-discovery is an elusive process. It is not always easy to ascertain exactly how or when you come to know your Self. [ Note that the use of a capitalized "Self" indicates the higher manifestation of the Spirit, as opposed the lower case "self" which indicates the animal personality that manifests in daily life. ] Some of your most illuminating moments seem to take place when you least expect them, such as during a relaxing game of chess or while seated on the toilet.

The search for the Self is an ongoing process of discovery and understanding. We find our Selves in glimpses and fragments as we journey through the string of moments that make up our lives. The Self is not a destination. It is a process of becoming aware of the transitions and transformations marking our growth, our relationship to the Universe, and the interaction of our present self to our past and future. We discover, over and over again, who we are, what we are, where we are, and why we are, in accordance to our chosen actions, held beliefs and desired ideals. It is a dynamic process, seemingly without end.

The more we learn and discover, the better we are able to manage the complicated and confusing business of living. An ever-growing sense of Self provides us with a measure of emotional security and mental stability. A fully conscious mind can, then, be comforted by the knowledge that it is eternal and cannot be blown away or torn apart by forces beyond its control.

Self-discovery allows one to stay in touch with reality. Rationalizations and fantasies are no longer needed to justify existence. The conscious mind can accept what is, what was, what may be, what might be, and what simply cannot be. By acceptance, however, I do not imply that one has to like these conditions. Quite the contrary. I accept many things which I do not like. One does not have to approve of brutality, for instance, to know that it exists. That does not mean that you should embrace brutality and seek it out. But, you cannot run and hide from it either. The conscious mind must simply accept its existence, and get on with its own business of living.

Many of us get so caught up in trying to be someone or something that we are not that we lose sight of our Selves. It is valuable, now and then, to step back and take a long, hard look at what we know and what we presently understand about the Self. For most of us, though, the biggest step toward Self-discovery is simply to cease striving and allow ourselves to just... Be.