There's a diamond inside each one of us

"There are three things extremely hard: steel, a diamond & to know one's self." - Benjamin Franklin
Many a times we spend our lives in illusion. We don't even realize that there is a diamond hidden inside us, just waiting to shine. Many a times we ignore that diamond to be mere pebble and just live life longing for diamonds that don't belong to us. As a child, we do experience that preciousness in us, but sooner we let it lose it's brightness. The glimpse of that diamond is sometimes reflected at moments we never realized or moments we never thought was possible. But, we are scared to even accept that. We fear humiliation, mockery, failure, uncertainty and biggest of all the inward journey towards polishing of that diamond. We cover up our diamond with curtains stage by stage. Either those curtains need to be removed by us or we need to take the help from someone who can support us in doing that & let the diamond in us shine & glow the way it is meant to be. 

By now I am sure you know what I mean by this "diamond". That is your authentic core, your individuality, your gift, your light, your uniqueness....whatever you may like to call it. That's "YOU", the only "YOU". It's presented to us in a very raw form. Just like the dark carbon. Only when it is polished, put under pressure, the diamond gets cut from that carbon. But, we very often ignore that diamond. Why is it so? What comes in the way of this realization & its manifestation? Let's explore the diagram below to understand.

The diamond is our TRUE SELF, our CORE, our SOUL. But, we mask it with the FALSE SELF called EGO. EGO is a false and manufactured state of consciousness in us that only perceives reality from one particular point of view. The ego is not who really you are.It is your self-image, your social mask, it is the role you are playing.Your social mask thrives on approval.It wants control & it is sustained by power, because it lives in fear. It is nothing but a mental, physical & emotional coping mechanism developed for dealing with the fear of the end of it's own existence. It does not integrate or acknowledge complimentary views or its oneness with Nature. This compartmentalization of perception sends misleading information to our thoughts and feelings, and gives rise to dynamics such as “me vs you” and “us vs them”. When we can can embrace our uniqueness as an expression of Nature's wholeness,our authentic natural self expression can come forth.

What you perceive changes your self. And how perceptions are formed? We receive stimulus, we use our filters, we interpret. Frustration, fear, distortion, resistance are the fuel for the false EGO that creates the false perception of what you are. The ego prefers a satisfying untruth to an unsatisfying truth because the ego demands instant satisfaction and the settling of all dust. The choice is ultimately yours, to choose fear or self-love; to choose your small mind or big mind. Self-discipline & self-awareness is the key. 

Leaving you with this quote: "Your ability to listen to & take action based on your inner voice-regardless of how you feel, other influences or temptations you face is the key to self-mastery." 

Warmth,
​Priyanka