Who are you?
The other night I watched Oblivion – the 2013 film set in 2077. A story of our post-apocalyptic planet being scavenged by extraterrestials while the majority of humanity is relocating to the world of Titan, a billion miles from Earth. Tom Cruise is, of course, the hero.
Although not a big ‘sci fi’ fan, I am glad I stayed and ignored my inner prejudices. It resonated on many levels and was astonishingly zeitgeist. The damage to our planet, corrupt leaders and the dislocated living arrangements of survivors are strikingly appropriate in 2022 – but that’s for another conversation. It was the cloning in the film that got me thinking:
Who are we? How many versions of us are there? What do our memories, inner thoughts and voices do to hold us back/spur us on? Where do they come from?
Try to answer the question: ‘Who am I?’
I don’t mean your name, gender, social stature, wealth, nationality, appearance, connections. Who are you really? Deep inside your Self. How do you see the world? How does it see you? What does it matter?
Everyone can feel different and lost when we listen to our inner judgmental voices. It is easy to lose ourselves in old stories and other people’s dreams. Most of all when we listen to the constant silent arguments we have with ourselves. Such as:
- I must do that or they will think this
- What if I do that and it does not work out?
- In order to be happy, I need to have these things that all successful people have
- All my friends did this before they were my age – why can’t I?
- If I were different/ healthier/ richer/ better educated, everything would be better
Thoughts swirl around our heads all the time. Soundbytes we pick up along the way through life torment and contradict us. If they were a real live person imposing their ridiculous ideas on us we would ask them to leave. Yet because they disguise themselves as our own beliefs, we think we have to take notice.
These wireless thoughts are generally inconsistent and confusing depending on the moment/ environment we are in. One moment in favour of whatever we are planning; the next against it.
Step back. Listen to them as if they were a podcast or radio play. You will find there is no continuity. They are all over the place. Within half an hour, you will want to switch the radio off. But you can’t because they are inside you. You carry them around all day and night. They interrupt your every experience.
It is like having your own clones fighting inside your head.
Be still. When we experience life fully without heeding inner comments, outer competition and combined judgment, we are truly ourselves. Once we become aware of our incessant inner thoughts/voices we can choose to ignore the chatter and begin to participate in life with relish and harmony.
This year my determination is to encourage people to step back from those internal saboteur ‘clones’ so they can fall in love with their own life.
– It’s an ambitious plan and will probably never work… no, wait – that’s not me speaking!
Welcome to the future.
If this resonates with you and you would like a free confidential chat, contact me.
And definitely call me immediately if you are thinking of relocating to Titan.