Sunday, April 18, 2010

The "I" Who Observes Me

I remember my husband telling me, years ago in a discussion of spiritual things, that he knew spirit existed within him because there was a part of him that was not what he experienced, but stood outside of his experience, watching it.  He explained to me that the part of him that observed as he moved through all of his thoughts, feelings and activities was the eternal part of him.  As he said, there's a me noticing me.

A fellow spiritual blogger, Inspiration Austin, wrote of this recently in his blog, Inspiration for Spiritual Journeys, in a post called Learning to Step Out of Your Skin.  In his post, he discusses the difference between the "I" that we normally identify with, and the I which is the observer of our experience.  I was grateful for that post, as yet another example of the order and serendipity in which truth expresses itself:  answers often come in various ways, from different sources or in different words, and at just the time when that particular answer is precisely what I'd been seeking.

Surely, we are able to live in awareness of being spiritual beings having a human experience.  We can know ourselves as eternal spirit expressing as our own unique personalities.  After listening to a guest speaker at Unity a few weeks ago, I discovered how truly helpful and precious this awareness can be for me.

In his message called "I Believe in You," he showed a fun but very profound video clip from the 1967 film version of the musical "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying."  Robert Morse is singing "I Believe in You" (click here for the YouTube video) to himself in the mirror as other men around him sing of wanting to stop him.  It is a silly but poignant example of how life can be sometimes, when in the moment everything seems to be conspiring to limit how we want to express ourselves, and we are doing our best to stand tall in the truth that we are larger than those limits.

As we smiled watching that video of a grown man singing in the mirror, tipping his hat to himself and in a great state of self-appreciation, I noticed what a strong message it gave to those of us watching.  What a tremendous gift, that part of ourselves who not only observes, but can speak the truth to us when no other voice in the world is, or can.

The eternal "I" who sees us always is a dear friend who, as the saying goes, "knows the song in our heart and can sing it back to us when we've forgotten the words."  I am getting to know the "I" that observes me as a gentle and loving parent, noticing my emotions and reactions and providing me with unconditional love and guidance as I learn more about navigating my time on this earth in love, peace, and gratitude.  It is the voice of God within me.

I tried it, speaking the words "I believe in you" to myself in the mirror.  It was silly but also fun, and uplifting.  I've remembered since then to allow the voice of I, the eternal observer,  to inspire me and heal me by speaking the words of the song in my heart.

May this tool be a blessing. . .

10 comments:

  1. I feel like saying how I see 'I' in me.

    I see in me ‘I’ as “A friend, who is unchanged in my thick & thin, ups & down. Observes me, accepts me but doesn’t pass a comment".

    I am thankful He is there in me.

    ReplyDelete
  2. This is a wonderful tool to help with acceptance of oneself, relinquishing outdated beliefs and replacing them with affirming and loving thoughts and actions.
    The connection with "I am" is key.
    Great picture you used too.

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  3. Hey Sherry,

    I remember that image... had first come across it about 10 years ago through an e-mail forward, and I think it was captioned as Self Confidence, if I remember right. It's one of my all-time favourites. I just love that image!

    Nice video too! Thanks for sharing. Indeed, "yourself in the mirror" is a great success tool. Silly that it sounds, it's a pity it is seldom used to its full potential.

    Cheers,
    Mark @ Secrets of Success

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  4. Sherry, Very interesting thoughts. Thanks so much for your comment on my post and pointing me in your direction. Blessings to you!

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  5. It was refreshing that you mentioned my Post, Sherry. Thank you for the honor. Great thoughts on the subject.
    I would like to mention that a great deal of my spiritual belief system is based on the knowledge past down from others: bible, torah, Dead Sea Scrolls, A New Earth -- Eckhart Tolle, and The Power of Now -- Eckhart Tolle, and my study of religion at Harding University--in my younger years.
    It's always a path, but it has led me into this moment, The Now. Thank you for being a part of The Now, Sherry!

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  6. Thank you for this uplifting post and the strong reminder "I believe in me".

    I'm making a daily practice of singing that phrase to me.

    Inez

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  7. When you say 'Who am I' you can add,'who is
    asking that question' or 'who wants to know' &
    constantly focus on it, the false 'I' drops out leaving
    the 'me' totally absorbed into the real 'I' that is you & me.

    ReplyDelete
  8. When you say 'Who am I' you can add,'who is
    asking that question' or 'who wants to know' &
    constantly focus on it, the false 'I' drops out leaving
    the 'me' totally absorbed into the real 'I' that is you & me.

    ReplyDelete
  9. If you want to know further about the source of 'I', write down on a board 'I' & ask any number of
    persons to read it.It is only a single 'I' even if a
    million persons read it. You say 'I',I say 'I' & everyone says 'I'. The 'I' has no beginning or end.
    From childhood till we age we say 'I'which does not change in structure or sense.If you deeply ponder on it,it is just a humming sound of the Spirit
    within expressing & experiencing itself dwelling in
    within what it has created.Primordial energy pulsating in the matter.


    ReplyDelete
  10. If you want to know further about the source of 'I', write down on a board 'I' & ask any number of
    persons to read it.It is only a single 'I' even if a
    million persons read it. You say 'I',I say 'I' & everyone says 'I'. The 'I' has no beginning or end.
    From childhood till we age we say 'I'which does not change in structure or sense.If you deeply ponder on it,it is just a humming sound of the Spirit
    within expressing & experiencing itself dwelling in
    within what it has created.Primordial energy pulsating in the matter.


    ReplyDelete