"True loss is for him, whose days have been spent in utter ignorance of his self."
Discovery of true self
Being able to manage our behaviour is critical to developing constructive relationships and to the quality of life we lead. To do this effectively we need to have a clear understanding of what makes us tick as a person.
“True loss is for him whose days have been spent in utter ignorance of his self” 1
Self-awareness is a self-conscious state where we take the time in our daily schedules to focus on discovering our true self. It’s often said ' we cannot change what we will not see.'
“Bring thyself to account each day” 2
Self-awareness entails firstly understanding our inherent reality.
“Lofty is the station of man!” 3
“All men have been created to carry forward an ever-advancing civilization.” 4
While bringing ourselves to account, it’s important to notice our faults and weaknesses, but it’s equally important to acknowledge our strengths and achievements. Bookkeepers who do accounting, always look at both income and expenses; profit and losses – but so many times we just look at the things we didn’t do well. When we only dwell on the negatives, we are continuing to abase ourselves, and we’re not being truthful.
“We must not only be patient with others, infinitely patient, but also with our own poor selves” 5
We need to begin by acknowledging the positive things. This will strengthen and encourage us to face the less favourable character traits without abandoning our new venture. The goal is to progress, step by step, little by little.
“Let each morn be better than its eve and each morrow richer than its yesterday.” 6
So what to do with our future challenges and failures and trials ahead?
“We should try and make every stumbling-block a stepping-stone to progress.” 7
Life should be seen as an eternal process of joyous spiritual discovery and growth, and the development of the soul and its capacities is the basic purpose of our human existence.
A full recognition of ourselves gives us the opportunity to become the self-fulfilled person we’re destined to be.
We should try and make every stumbling-block a stepping-stone to progress.”
1. Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah, p. 156
2. Baha'u'llah, The Hidden Words
3. Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah, p. 219
4. Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 214
5. Shoghi Effendi, The Unfolding Destiny of the British Baha'i Community, p. 456
6. Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah, p. 138
7. Shoghi Effendi