Who am I?
In many ways, what a person things about his or her self shapes his or her life and one's relationship with others and the world. A good deal depends upon a person’s experiences, their reflection on those experiences whether real or virtual (e.g., story or movie, etc.) , the decisions they make and their subsequent actions. One’s age and learning styles and personality also impact one’s awareness and understanding. When a pserson tells the story of who they are , they come to a deeper understanding of themselves as their story clarifies their thoughts. How would you tell the story of who you are? |
Reflection Starters
The following four pictures and statements are meant to be reflection starters as you articulate your story of who you are.
> Should you choose the far right statement and the one on the bottom, then select the Bottom Right
picture.
OR
choose the left statement along with either the top or bottom one and then the corresponding picture.
2. Then reflect and write down for yourself
> Some key experiences that shaped your concept of who you are.
> How you wold tell someone who you are.
The following four pictures and statements are meant to be reflection starters as you articulate your story of who you are.
- Choose the two statements which best reflect your current perspective.
> Should you choose the far right statement and the one on the bottom, then select the Bottom Right
picture.
OR
choose the left statement along with either the top or bottom one and then the corresponding picture.
2. Then reflect and write down for yourself
> Some key experiences that shaped your concept of who you are.
> How you wold tell someone who you are.
WHO AM I?
Some key experiences in shaping your story:
Your story:
Some key experiences in shaping your story:
Your story:
A Story
I stood on the little hill behind our house, looking at the stars. Brilliant and beautiful, they sparkled in the night sky. Wonder and awe filled my heart. But my wife, our new born twin daughters and I would have to leave soon. Lightening was already flashing over the distant mountains. Torrential rains were coming. The river at the bottom of the hill would flood and we would be cut off. We couldn’t take that chance with our newborn children. |
When we arrived at the shelter, the people were wonderful and caring. They welcomed us and went out of their way to meet our every need. We were so very grateful. Before going to sleep that night we heard the terrible news. Terrorists and suicide bombers had killed more than a hundred innocent men, women and children in Paris.
The Mystery of Life
It is a real challenge to make sense of life. There are times when we experience heartwarming beauty and goodness. At other times we are overcome with heart wrenching destruction and violence.
Life can be wonderful and full of exciting possibilities. It can also be complex and full of uncertainty. In a word, life is ambiguous. The proper word to describe this is mystery. Here mystery is not used in the sense of a murder mystery. A murder mystery can be solved once enough questions have been asked and answered, but faced with the Mystery of Life we can keep on asking questions and we’ll always have more questions than answers. This means we have to interpret and make sense of reality. We long to make sense of it all. And we want to be happy.
> Happiness can best be understood as the fulfillment of one’s deepest desires. When a person experiences
beauty (e.g. the beauty of the stars) or goodness (e.g. the love of others) or when one reaches a new level of
understanding or when one is with family and friends who really care for them, that person is happy.
+ Happiness results when all is right in a person’s world and life.
+ There are different degrees of happiness.
a) Happiness can come from a enjoying a good meal.
b) Or from some achievement such as winning a game.
c) A deeper level of happiness comes from helping others.
d) Happiness also comes from doing what is right and good regardless of any personal
recognition.
> Meaning comes from doing that which makes one happy. For some meaning comes from eating, drinking and
making merry. For others, meaning is found in making life better for others. Just as there are different
degrees of happiness so there are different degrees of meaning. It is a question of priority and consistency.
Louis Zamperini was a WWII hero. When his bomber crashed in the Pacific he spent 47 days drifting on a
raft before being captured by the Japanese. He survived more than two and a half years in three brutal
Japanese prisoner-of-war camps. Because he was an athlete of some fame, he was beaten, humiliated and
degraded in a multitude of ways by his captors. While they broke his body, they never broke his spirit. He
was finally freed at the end of the war and returned home, but he couldn’t get over what had happened to
him. He went into a downward spiral and was only saved by coming to a deep awareness that forgiveness
was the path to true peace. As he learned to forgive his captors and let go of what had happened to him, he
found new life. He became a motivational speaker and was honored by carrying the torch for the 1964
Olympic Games in Tokyo. In the course of the run, he passed the place where he had been held prisoner.
Learning to forgive was the key to his redemption, ability to inspire others and living a happy and fulfilling
life to the very end. His is an inspiring story. (1)
Meaning comes from doing that which makes one happy. For some, meaning comes from eating, drinking
and making merry. For others, meaning is found in making life better for others. Just as there are different
degrees of happiness, so there are different degrees of meaning. It is a question of priority and consistency.
Victor Frankl, a doctor, was a prisoner in several Nazi concentration camps. After enduring the suffering in
these camps, he validated his hallmark conclusion that even in the most absurd, painful, and dehumanized
situation, life has potential meaning and that, therefore, even suffering is meaningful. He is quoted as
saying, "What is to give light must endure burning."
A man who becomes conscious of the responsibility he bears toward a human being who affectionately waits
for him, or to an unfinished work, will never be able to throw away his life. He knows the 'why' for his existence,
and will be able to bear almost any 'how’. (2)
The Community’s Experience
> It all begins with our experience of living in this world. A person can say
* I am a creature of this earth; but unlike any other animal, I have a unique self-reflective awareness.
Not only do I learn from my experiences, I wonder, question and seek after total beauty, goodness,
the fullness of truth, unity and life.
* I can dream great dreams like going to the stars or curing cancer, I can freely choose how to think,
speak and act.
* I am able to grow and learn, even from my mistakes.
* I know I have an intrinsic dignity no matter my ethnicity, gender, age, mental or physical capacity.
* I am a social being who grows and matures best in relationship to others and the whole world.
> Knowing all this, the author of the first story in the Bible, the poetic story of creation, described the
human person as an integral part and steward of all of creation and a friend of the Creator.
> At the last supper, Jesus said to his disciples, "I have told you this so that my joy may be in you, and that
your joy may be complete. This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. No one has greater
love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you.
I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you
friends, because I have told you everything, I have heard from My Father. It was not you who chose me,
but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask of
the Father in my name, he may give you. This I command you, that you love one another.” (John 15:11:17)
Our Catholic Story:
As Catholics we believe
* we are created in God’s image and likeness and are therefore good.
* We have a special dignity as God's beloved
* We are commissioned to be God’s co-creators or stewards to make this world a better place by brining
goodness, order and life into it.
* We are created to live in right relationshipwith of all of creation and with one another.
* We are called to give praise and thanks to God for the blessings of all that is beautiful, good, true, one and full
of life.
* Jesus, the Son of God, has called us friends and sent us to love all people. As we do this we come to experience
true meaning and happiness.
As Catholics we believe
* we are created in God’s image and likeness and are therefore good.
* We have a special dignity as God's beloved
* We are commissioned to be God’s co-creators or stewards to make this world a better place by brining
goodness, order and life into it.
* We are created to live in right relationshipwith of all of creation and with one another.
* We are called to give praise and thanks to God for the blessings of all that is beautiful, good, true, one and full
of life.
* Jesus, the Son of God, has called us friends and sent us to love all people. As we do this we come to experience
true meaning and happiness.
Your story
In light of the Catholic story above is there any part of your story that you would modify in some way?
Other Thoughts or Questions
What other questions do you have or would like to ask?
A) ________________________________________________________________
B) ________________________________________________________________
C) ________________________________________________________________
In light of the Catholic story above is there any part of your story that you would modify in some way?
Other Thoughts or Questions
What other questions do you have or would like to ask?
A) ________________________________________________________________
B) ________________________________________________________________
C) ________________________________________________________________
Some Additional Resources
Links
> How do I find meaning and purpose in my life?
* Why should I ask “the big questions” of life?
* What is my essential purpose in life?
* How should I define success?
ea * How can I find success in life?
* What does having a “vocation" for my life mean?
* Be not afraid
* Temptation and willpower
Books
(1) Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand
(2) Man's Search for Meaning by Victor Frankl
and purpose in my life?
How do I find meaning and purpose in my life?
Links
> How do I find meaning and purpose in my life?
* Why should I ask “the big questions” of life?
* What is my essential purpose in life?
* How should I define success?
ea * How can I find success in life?
* What does having a “vocation" for my life mean?
* Be not afraid
* Temptation and willpower
Books
(1) Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand
(2) Man's Search for Meaning by Victor Frankl
and purpose in my life?
How do I find meaning and purpose in my life?