WC-06

Authentic Self and Right Livelihood
Jay Whitham and Wendy Nethersole

Now more than ever it is so important to know who we are, to connect to our inner divine being; to find peace within amidst an increasingly chaotic world. The Authentic Self is an expression of “who you are” not “what you do” for a living. But most of us confuse the two. So often the first question we ask upon meeting someone for the first time is “what do you do?.” Chances are the person will respond with a description of his or her position and work responsibilities. And even if the question were rephrased to “tell me about yourself”, you would probably receive a similar answer.

When we understand that we are Light Beings created as aspects of the Infinite Creator, and that this can never change or be taken away from us, our balance and security is no longer dependent on anything that shifts in our external world. The Authentic Self is who we are when all errors in belief or false beliefs about ourselves have been removed through our awareness and healing. What remains is the Truth of who we are, the Authentic Self.

Our jobs may change but who we are remains the same. We all come into this physical life with spiritual gifts. These gifts are divine and meant to be expressed. The ways we can choose to express are unlimited; truly limited only by our imagination. Expressing ourselves through our work from this unlimited place is what we mean by “right livelihood”.

The modern world has accelerated at a tremendous pace. Marketing images bombard us constantly from all vantage points, vying for our attention and dollars. The messages conveyed through these images show product after product we “need” to be healthy, happy, and desirable; to be worthy of the esteem of others and even ourselves. It is no small wonder we are so tired and confused.

While the inventions of the industrial revolution may have made our lives easier, they have by no means made them simpler. The new technologies of the computer age have created the capability and expectation for an instantaneous response or reaction. What happened to relaxation or rest? The western world seems to frown upon such things, and “paid vacations” as a benefit are becoming a thing of the past.

As a culture, many of us keep ourselves busy spending money and accumulating “stuff”. We barely notice our dissatisfaction with our lives until we are so entrenched we feel trapped. It is only when we realize we are extremely unhappy that we may begin to recognize the pattern of compulsive behavior we manifest to avoid our feelings of emptiness and fear.

Statistics reveal that many adults are not happy with their work and are afraid to move into a field they feel would be more fulfilling, fearing loss of income, status, or some other change they believe would be detrimental. We spend so much time in our workplaces that we think we know who we are through the filter of our work. The more a person identifies with his or her job, the more depressed, lost or confused he or she may feel upon actually leaving.

In our workplaces, we are recognized and rewarded by our peers and bosses according to what they value the most. However, the accomplishments that we are recognized and rewarded for may not be fulfilling our need to be creative. Our need for creativity is the need we all have to express ourselves as we connect with the divine within. The gift of who we are is meant to be expressed, to be shared with the world in some way.
With a strong sense of self, the loss of a job may still be painful, however it would not create the same feeling of emptiness or prolonged confusion. The transition might even be seen as a welcome opportunity for change! It is important to ask “who am I?” and “what are my passions?”. The answer for each one of us will be profound and unique. Our understanding of the answer comes with insights in enlightened moments over a lifetime if we are paying attention.

Your expression does not have to be through a paid position. The expression of your passion may be a hobby, or a dream you are nurturing over time to become a more full time or part time work situation. It is not even necessary for you to know in advance how you will express your gifts. You will know you are expressing your gifts by how you feel. You will feel joyful, happy, and content. You have a lifetime to experience and share the joy of who you are.