A Happy Go Lucky Secret

In our modern world, "How do you define yourself?" is a frequently asked question. For some it is a simple matter of saying: I am what I am. For others, however, understanding the concept of self-definition can be more complicated.


To begin, you need to remember that there is no such thing as a self. The self is only a construct, a human idea, a frame of mind. When we speak of ourselves, we are really just talking about ourselves, only partially. This is because we live in a world where many different concepts and images are simultaneously used to explain and justify the workings of our bodies, minds and souls.

You may have heard the famous line from Jean-Philippe Constant, "I don't know who I am. I don't need to know who I am. I am the one who becomes aware of who I am." This famous statement from Constant is really more of a philosophical exercise than anything else, but the idea is still sound.

We cannot know who we are without knowing who we were prior to arriving on this earth. There must be an outside source of knowledge about us, which determines not only our current reality but also every future reality that we may reach. If we could be guided by some higher power about what our real traits and characteristics are, then we would know who we are. Yet this is not possible. So the next question is how do you define yourself?

There are basically two answers to this question, the first one is material. There are people in this world who have been given material bodies; those who are born into this world and those who choose to be born into this world. However, when we say "material" we essentially mean both physical and spiritual. And there is no one who is born with a spiritual nature, and as such there is no one who is born with a physical body.

The other answer to the question, how do you know if you have a self, is through education. In order for us to truly understand ourselves, we need to educate ourselves. There is nothing more rewarding or better at making us feel good about who we are; nothing. But when we go about educating ourselves, the only people we can see inside ourselves are the ones we want to see; the ones who we are happiest with, the ones who love us and are willing to let us know about their existence.

So, when I ask "How do you define yourself?" to myself, I really want to get inside of my own mind. I want to discover who I am and try to understand all of the various layers of myself that there are. I want to love myself, accept myself and be happy with my self. If I cannot do this for myself, I know that there is a problem, and it will never be solved unless I find a way to make myself happy.

So, how do you define yourself? It's very simple really. You know you are you when you are happy. You know you are complete only when you are complete within yourself. Happy is knowing you are a blessing, knowing you are the creator of your own life and being, and knowing you are the very essence of life itself!

In learning to say, "I am" is discovering who you are and allowing yourself to see your flaws. This does not mean that you are perfect; no one is. What does mean is that you recognize and own your imperfections. This does not mean you become a saint, but it does allow you to start loving yourself as you once did; a happy go lucky human being.

Let me tell you, when I say, "I am" it does not change me or make me different from anyone else. I am no better or worse than anyone else; and everyone should be able to say that. That doesn't mean there aren't things I would do differently if I were in your shoes, but it does give me a good place to start. I love myself and I think it is a great idea for each of us to love ourselves. You can use this affirmation to help you when you are trying to be happy, when you are being sad, or when you are simply trying to survive the trials and tribulations of life.


The best way to be happy is to accept yourself for who you are and find happiness in what you are doing. Don't look for happiness outside of yourself, look within. Finding the answer to, "How do you define yourself?" is finding the source of your happiness.