#true-self

In love, there is no need to choose between self and other, because self is other.

One enjoyed the mental pleasures through ignorance (of the Self), and that is cause of the worldly life. Only the bliss of the ‘Knowledge’ [of the Soul, one’s True Self] is to be enjoyed.

Modern society has lost a sacred sense of mystery. It conflates unbridled honesty with being true to one's self. No, being true to yourself does not mean revealing your deepest darkest secrets to the world. The world doesn't have the right to your mystery. It belongs to you and your God. Your true-identity, your true-self is not what's wrong with you, or what's dark within you - it's the holy radiant "you" made in the image of God and the end goal of His plans for you, already accomplished in Christ. Being true to yourself requires you to respect in faith this mystery of light, for this honours the God who made you. Sometimes it will require revealing things about yourself or your past to other people; other times being true to yourself and God will require concealment. In the confessional one can unfurl all darkness, simply because it's here where one's darkness is turned to light. Close confidants also have a special place, to a lesser degree. But outside of the sanctuaries God has prepared, be wary. Do not conceal everything, no, but do not necessarily reveal everything either. 'Invite people to celebrate in God's Light, the Light in which we all abide; do not lead them into your darkness.' True, sometimes to help people into the light you need to point out more than an abstract darkness, but one's own personal darkness, maybe not all, but parts thereof. Since our Lord says, 'Be innocent, humble as doves.' But He also says, 'be prudent as serpents'. "Do not cast your pearls before swine" (Mt 7:6) - that which was once plunged in the dark abyss of your inner sea, covered over by the waves of sin; but has since then been reclaimed by grace and shines upon the shore. For many people, even the sincere, are like the swine that were driven into the sea; who drowning in their own dark abyss, cannot see, and 'refuse to see the light' (Jn 3:19). It would be foolishness to stoop into the dark to show one's pearls to these, since all they will see is the darkness, even if that pearl, once hid, has risen and shines gloriously like the sun.

If you use your clothes consciously they can become a way know yourself better and to live more consciously.

INFP tip #46: Use your power