A Major Milestone Is Reached When You Discover The Difference Between What You Have And Who You Are - Grasshopper

I’m sure you and I are a lot alike in that we like nice things. When you define yourself by your things, you have more of a relationship with them than you do with people.

My guess is that incredibly wealthy people, on their deathbeds, don’t say, “I should have spent more time with my art collection.”

If having things makes you feel good, go for them; get them if you can, just don’t define yourself by them.

For example, the person with the “Museum House” where everything is to be viewed rather than used is the epitome of someone who’s caught up in identifying with things. These people generally don’t have any deep relationships simply because they haven’t found their own depth. They search for it in things. It’s a lifetime quest that doesn’t pan out.

The ascetic who gives up everything is no different if they define themselves by what they don’t have. That person has a relationship with a position - a position of superiority that they are above all the temporal things.

Who you are is not a position to be reached; it’s a state of being waiting to be discovered.

The discovery begins when what you have or don’t have takes on less importance.

Truth be told, I would rather have than not have, but never at the expense of sacrificing who I am.

Who you are is the source of all creativity. When you define yourself by what you have or what you do, you cram creativity into a corner and you leave little space to create something new. The sum total of who you think you are is taken up by what you have or don’t have.

Your focus is on things and, interestingly, you lose sight that it’s creativity that gives rise to things in the first place. You solely focus on procuring the product and don’t pay attention the process. This approach keeps the idea of “defining yourself by what you have” alive.

I believe in Capitalism and I will continue to buy things I can afford that add to my enjoyment of life. I just won’t be defined by them. The minute I do that, I have stifled my creativity and growth in exchange for a static inanimate object or idea.

Who you are is the gift that keeps on giving. When you stuff it in a corner, life becomes a struggle - a battle between the haves and have not’s.

Imagine for a moment that everything that defines you has been taken away. What’s left? Who you are!

Who you are is a force of creation that needn’t be limited by what you have.

Many of the world’s people live full, rich lives without having anything. You live an impoverished life when who you are is covered over by what you have.

Appreciate and be grateful for what you have, just never confuse it with who you are.

All the best,

John

HOW HEALTHY CAN YOU BE?
LOSE WEIGHT & KEEP IT OFF
STOP SMOKING FOREVER
SLEEP THROUGH THE NIGHT EVERY NIGHT
IMPROVE YOUR SELF CONFIDENCE
RELAX IN 2 MINUTES
VIRTUAL MASSAGE