Without exception every individual has a wonderful and perfect spiritual identity, and each one is unique and distinct. However, the frequent reminder "Be yourself "suggests that one may often have assumed a character contrary to his own individuality and therefore has failed in the basic necessity to know himself and to then act accordingly. To know yourself and to act in conformity with your true self necessitates breaking the numerous ties, self-imposed or imposed from without, that would bind one to false and assumed characteristics. To be yourself is to know yourself.
One's real identity is found only in qualities that can be attributed to the source of one's being—God. This means identity can be found only in what is spiritual and good. Too many individuals, however, have never looked for or known their true spiritual selfhood. Instead they have tied their identity to various misconceptions based on material conclusions, which would tempt one to see himself as a mortal affected by aggressive or subtle errors. These false beliefs may take the form of hereditary weakness or disease, insecurity, lack, age, overwork, loneliness, frustration, anger, shock at world conditions, and the like. One may be tempted to believe that he has little or no control over these errors, which appear to be major factors in determining his identity.
Can these be true or God-given factors? One need not permit impositions of mortal personalities and material conditions to determine what he is. Actually, God, Soul, determines his being. Obedience to the demands of Soul disentangles him from a material sense of himself and the universe and reveals a glorious identity and individuality.
