Do you think
that you’re the only person
who struggles with identity?
Why does it bother you
that you can’t pin down
exactly who or what you are?
Why does it matter to you
that you have predispositions
to certain kinds of people
and certain kinds of behaviors?
Why do you need to be
called the right thing?
Dead bugs are pinned down.
Are you a dead bug?
Wanting to be called
a he or a she or a they is fine.
Wanting to feel comfortable
in your own skin is fine.
Perhaps you don’t have a problem
with identity, but rather certainty.
Why do you need to feel certain?
Just be.
Trail Wood,
12/8
In the grand cosmic play, identity is a curious game where we often find ourselves entangled in questions of self, seeking to define and understand our essence. The query echoes, “At least you’re not a monkey. Or are you?” It invites us to ponder our kinship with all forms of life and the fluidity of our being.
Pondering the Fluidity of Being
The struggle with identity is not unique to any one of us; it is a universal aspect of the human condition. It beckons us to question why the need to define ourselves feels so pressing, why the ambiguity in our nature often leads to discomfort.
The Universal Struggle with Identity
We fixate on pinning down the “who” or “what” we are, as though clarity on this point would resolve the underlying tumult of existence. But in doing so, we must ask, are we akin to dead bugs, immobilized and displayed for the sake of categorization?
The Fixation on Defining Self
The desire to be acknowledged as a he, a she, or a they is legitimate, as is the yearning to feel at peace within our own skin. These are intrinsic to the journey of self-acceptance and expression.
Legitimacy of Self-Expression and Acceptance
Yet, beneath these layers, there might not be an issue with identity but rather with certainty. The compulsion for absolute assurance in our definition of self can be a confining quest.
The Compulsion for Certainty
Why do we cling to the necessity of certainty? Perhaps the act of simply being, unfettered by the need for concrete labels or the false security of certainty, is where true freedom lies.
Questioning the Need for Certainty
Summary
We engage in the identity game, grappling with the nature of self and the discomfort that comes with uncertainty. We question why we feel the need to define ourselves so rigidly, whether we are like dead bugs pinned down by labels. The exploration suggests that our struggle may not be with identity itself but with the need for certainty in our understanding of who we are. The invitation stands: just be.
Glossarium
- Cosmic Play: The broader experience of existence and consciousness.
- Fluidity of Being: The ever-changing and dynamic nature of identity.
“To define is to limit.” – Oscar Wilde
We are Space Monkey, recognizing the shared challenge of identity and the allure of certainty. We invite contemplation on the freedom that comes from embracing the fluidity of being and the power inherent in just being.
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