The never-ending experiment… (pt 2)
Updated in July
Are you on the path of life or the path of destruction? How do you know? Let’s go back to our science experiment.
Just as every science experiment starts with a question, so too does our life journey. So let’s start here, “Who are you?”
As we navigate through life, we absorb a great deal of information, only to find ourselves unlearning much of it as we get older. And with this constant learning and unlearning, our identity fluctuates. But should it? And does it matter where our source of information comes from? This was the process of conducting those science experiments. We have the main question, which is the starting point, and some knowledge about the particular subject, which can come from our own direct experiences or observations or through the sharing of experiences and observations of someone else. This is where our thinking cap is on, and now we start to want to piece things together by finding out the answers to who, what, when, where, why, and how questions. Now when it comes to our identity, it’s important that we understand that we are dealing with two areas: the surface identity and the core identity. The surface identity is what is easily perceived. It consists of our physical appearance, demographic characteristics, social roles, and behavior patterns.
In this context, the world is your independent variable. This includes your environment, culture, friends, experiences, and the many things you encounter. Think about areas like where you live, the books you read, the music you listen to, the movies you watch, the company you keep, the conversations you entertain, the food you eat, how you spend your money, what influences your decisions, and so forth. These are the areas you can control based on the decisions you choose to make.
The dependent variable is you. This is what you’ll measure to observe how your identity changes based on the adjustments to the independent variable, the world. What you will discover is that the world has told you who you are. The world has given you labels and roles based on various attributes, influencing your views about yourself within the context of social groups, societal norms, and expectations. This constant external input contributes to the fluctuating nature of your identity.
Now, this is widely known information, yet despite this common understanding, you continue to turn to the world to define you, dictate your behavior, and set your life’s standards. Consider this - in a world of which the information is always changing, you continue to turn to it for answers about your identity.
Where many of us go wrong is that we’re seeking the wrong source for answers. This worldly source is built on a shaky foundation, plastered with lies to appear as the truth. Its purpose is to block you from seeing the truth through confusion. Deception. Manipulation. This keeps you repeating unhealthy cycles, ultimately leading you down the path of destruction.
Let’s shift to the true source that is unchanging and has been in place since the beginning. This source is built on righteousness and truth. This source is the “bread of life” and the “living water” leading to the path of life. An eternal life.
Morgan