In our last conversation, we ended with an invitation to consider dying to the ‘old self’ that is shaped predominantly by the conditioning and programming from our past so as to make room for the emergence of the ‘new.’ In short, let’s explore the experience of self-renewal as one aspect of transformation.
In fact, without any conscious effort, our bodies are already undergoing the process of renewal daily. New cells are being created to replace the old. It’s been said that all the cells in the body are totally replaced in seven years (I’m not sure if that’s been verified empirically). In contrast, the mind tends to renew itself less frequently. It is more resistant to renewal or change. Often, we hang on to beliefs and rules acquired during the formative years in childhood and adolescence, and carry them unconsciously into our adult lives even when they no longer serve us. We then continue to accumulate new beliefs on top of these outdated beliefs, often until the occurence of some kind of ‘breakdown’ that necessitates a rexamination of that which no longer work.
Such breakdowns might come in different forms, such as an unexpected job loss, a rocky patch in a relationship, financial crisis, business failures, and difficulties in communicating with one’s teenager, their functions in the context of transformation is similar. Breakdowns serve as a call for us to reexamine our beliefs, worldviews, rules, etc. in light of the current reality that we are faced with, and then make conscious choices about what to keep, to discard, or to change. In other words, breakdowns are the precursors of breakthroughs – phenomena in which we experience a new realm of possibilities, such as a deeper connection with our loved ones, the experience of greater meaning or success at work, and the ability to perform at levels that were previously considered impossible.
Now, while it is valuable to alter our beliefs about things and others, see them differently and hence act differently, a critical aspect of self-renewal is to examine and change what we believe about ourselves. So, what do you believe about yourself? What do you believe to be your core strengths? What is your purpose of life (if any)? Who are you, really?
The deeper the change, the greater the extent of transformation. Do you see yourself as a human being whose sole purpose is to survive and pursue pleasure, or a spiritual being sent to fulfill a divine mission on earth? What works for best you, NOW?
The emphasis on timing is deliberate, for self-renewal isn’t simply about replacing one ‘operating system’ with another, like switching the brand of our mobile phones. It’s about outgrowing the old and embracing the new in light of the phase of our personal journey through life. Each phase brings us to a new realm of existence.
And it is no secret that spirituality becomes an increasingly relevant aspect of self-renewal as one matures and grows with age. I was humbly reminded of this fact when a friend handed me the following passage from Baha’i sciptures some weeks back. Let me share these words of inspiration with you as a parting thought:
“For the essential reality is the spirit; the foundational basis is the spirit; the life of man is due to the spirit; the happiness, the animus, the radiance, the glory of man – all are due to the spirit; and if in the spirit no reformation takes place, there will be no result to human existence.”
Live fully!
The Fisher
