Musings 
No Comments SELF-KNOWLEDGE
Operations Manual
“The essential meaning and purpose of life is to become the best version of yourself.” – Mathew Kelly
“You are today where your thoughts have brought you; You’ll be tomorrow where your thoughts take you.” – James Allen
Our brain is sometimes compared to a computer in that you can only take out what you put in. Our brains are infinitely more complex than a computer and are capable of creative thought, yet the comparison has some merit in that it is a strong caution to be wary of the “garbage in, garbage out” syndrome. It is up to us to put in information and concepts that will promote our well-being and success. If we do not do our own programming, someone else will do it for us.
With this in mind I work to supply my Inner Voice with supportive material for positive programming. I know that my Inner Voice, the good one that knows and wants the best for me is like a muscle—it gets stronger with exercise. I must Use it or lose it.
A question that I continually ask my Inner Voice is, “What different attitudes should I program and what actions should I take if I lived to honor the truth that integrity has more value than money, position, or ego?”
I also know that it is important to realize that my Inner Voice is separate from my Ego. Emotions like anger, resentment, pride, or embarrassment are ego-connected and cause me to be self-absorbed. Body hits like these are not signs from my Inner Voice. To hear my Inner Voice clearly, I have to get Ego out of the way.
Getting Ego out of the way is a constant challenge for me. Ego always wants to compare my actions and results to others. I work to not let my short-comings define me. I claim that I am my own authority for my self-worth. I affirm that Spirit as speaking through my Inner Voice only wants the best for me and reminds me to be generous with compassion for myself and others.
I have found that compassionate thoughts must become ingrained habits. Coloring and immersing our thoughts with the wisdom of others works to strengthen our Inner Voice. Remember, if you are not doing your own programming, someone will do it for you.
The Proverbs caution, “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.”
As the Roman Emperor and Stoic philosopher, Marcus Aurelius (121 – 180 AD) advised, “Such as they are, thy habitual thoughts, such also will be the character of your mind; for the Soul is dyed by these thoughts.”
