Many people are eager to be themselves, to find and express their authentic self. This search for authenticity is good. But if not channelled properly, it can make us narcissistic. When we think only about ourselves, our self becomes like a black hole that consumes our consciousness.
The more we think only of ourselves, the more we become vulnerable to acting out of self-centered obsession. And the more we bring out our worst self – we act insensitively, uncaringly, apathetically.
To find ourselves, we need to stop thinking too much about ourselves and to instead focus on contributing to others. In this mood of contribution, we discover what we can do and can’t do, what sets our heart on fire with inspiration and what leaves our heart untouched, what we wish to live for and what we wish to leave for others to do. Thus, we discover ourselves.
To get out of ourselves, we usually need an inspiring person whom we wish to love, serve, please. And the most inspiring person is Krishna, the all-attractive, all-loving, all-benevolent Supreme Person. When we connect with him by practicing bhakti-yoga, we become purified of the turbulent cravings that obscure our perception of our essential nature and core needs. That’s why by devotional purification and the resulting enhanced inner perception, we can better find ourselves.
And to connect with Krishna, we need to come out of ourselves, to think of him and how we can best serve him. The Bhagavad-gita (18.46) indicates that our connection with Krishna and our occupation according to our nature can both work symbiotically in propelling us towards perfection.
By thus tapping the potency of devotion to inspire and assist us in bringing out our best self, we become who we are meant to be.

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