What is in a name? A quintessential question for you to find the answer this weekend. Who are you? I think man has an unquenchenable thirst to belong, to identify with something, to stand for a belief or value. He believes he is the sum of his experiences, passion, memories and dreams. Who are you, by what name do you go by – or what label to put on yourself?
Name: A word, term or phrase by which somebody is known and distinguished from other people or things. The reputation or standing of somebody or something.
All my life I had been looking for something, and everywhere I turned someone tried to tell me what it was. I accepted their answers too, though they were often in contradiction and even self-contradictory. I was naïve. I was looking for myself and asking everyone except myself questions which I, and only I, could answer. It took me a long time and much painful boomeranging of my expectations to achieve a realization everyone else appears to have been born with: that I am nobody but myself. ~Ralph Ellison, "Battle Royal"
In order to answer this one question, I include a few basic questions to help you decide who you are. Are you just a name or so much more? Do you identify with the name you have been given? My name is Judy and it means ‘worthy to be praised’. I can honestly say that when I was younger I didn’t identify with it at all, but then I thought about the effort my parents put into choosing that name for me, and I slowly decided to live up to that name. I chose my actions far more carefully; I tried to make a point of doing something good each day to make a difference in another person’s life. I would not say that I have lived up to my name yet, but I strive to be better every day in every way. What does your name mean? Do you identify with your name; do you think it defines who you are?
What role do you play in your life – you may be a mother, boss, teacher, counsellor or friend at any given time and yet be you! Is that not absolutely wonderful? People are chameleons all the time. We all have a personal façade that we want to show the outside world. What does not change however, is your inner core, the root of your character. I have a series of questions for you this weekend and I would like you answer honestly and openly. Think of it as a chance to get to know yourself better.
Do you feel inadequate in any area of your life? We all feel the pinch of not living up to an expectation. Is it because of what others have said to you and you believing them? If you answered no to the first one, do know your limitations and fortes? Do your values change when you are in different situations? Do you allow situations to influence your moods to a large degree? Do you spend most of your time doing things for other people? Must you have friends or people around you most of the time? Are you afraid to be alone with yourself? Are you doing what you enjoy in your life? Are you settling for less, because you are too afraid of the outcome if you chose differently? Have you ever taken a risk, doubting your ability to cope? Do know who you are? I dare you to find out……..
I leave you with another quote:
Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone else's opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation. ~Oscar Wilde, De Profundis, 1905
Name: A word, term or phrase by which somebody is known and distinguished from other people or things. The reputation or standing of somebody or something.
All my life I had been looking for something, and everywhere I turned someone tried to tell me what it was. I accepted their answers too, though they were often in contradiction and even self-contradictory. I was naïve. I was looking for myself and asking everyone except myself questions which I, and only I, could answer. It took me a long time and much painful boomeranging of my expectations to achieve a realization everyone else appears to have been born with: that I am nobody but myself. ~Ralph Ellison, "Battle Royal"
In order to answer this one question, I include a few basic questions to help you decide who you are. Are you just a name or so much more? Do you identify with the name you have been given? My name is Judy and it means ‘worthy to be praised’. I can honestly say that when I was younger I didn’t identify with it at all, but then I thought about the effort my parents put into choosing that name for me, and I slowly decided to live up to that name. I chose my actions far more carefully; I tried to make a point of doing something good each day to make a difference in another person’s life. I would not say that I have lived up to my name yet, but I strive to be better every day in every way. What does your name mean? Do you identify with your name; do you think it defines who you are?
What role do you play in your life – you may be a mother, boss, teacher, counsellor or friend at any given time and yet be you! Is that not absolutely wonderful? People are chameleons all the time. We all have a personal façade that we want to show the outside world. What does not change however, is your inner core, the root of your character. I have a series of questions for you this weekend and I would like you answer honestly and openly. Think of it as a chance to get to know yourself better.
Do you feel inadequate in any area of your life? We all feel the pinch of not living up to an expectation. Is it because of what others have said to you and you believing them? If you answered no to the first one, do know your limitations and fortes? Do your values change when you are in different situations? Do you allow situations to influence your moods to a large degree? Do you spend most of your time doing things for other people? Must you have friends or people around you most of the time? Are you afraid to be alone with yourself? Are you doing what you enjoy in your life? Are you settling for less, because you are too afraid of the outcome if you chose differently? Have you ever taken a risk, doubting your ability to cope? Do know who you are? I dare you to find out……..
I leave you with another quote:
Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone else's opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation. ~Oscar Wilde, De Profundis, 1905
