The Discovery and Pursuit of Enjoyment 5

5. Knowing Your True Self

　To know your true self, it’s important to think in a connected, associative way. When we overthink or get stuck in circular reasoning, it’s because we can’t find the direction to be our true selves or to keep doing what we genuinely want to do. Searching for correctness, avoiding harm, or identifying causes won’t lead you to your true self.

　To know your true self, you need to connect events that trigger emotions―like things that make you anxious or irritated―to what you’re currently doing. Ask yourself questions that provide perspective on your heart: “What does this event teach me about the ideal self I wish to be?” or “What is this situation guiding me to do?”

　Then, among the choices available to you, selecting the action that brings you peace of mind is your true self. When you recognize your true self, you’ll feel better than you do now. When you act in accordance with your true self, your mood will improve.

　What’s important is not to avoid thinking, but to use your thinking to guide your understanding of your existence and actions. Everything you feel―your emotions, thoughts, and actions―exists to help you discover and maintain your true self and what you genuinely want to do. Everything exists for you.