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Introduction on personal identity
Introduction on personal identity
Personal identity and Self Identity
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Journeys are moments in life that define and reconstruct the myths we create about ourselves and others. All too often the ideals of a biased community or select group are viewed as the model by which all individuals must follow. To escape the pressures of a collective standard a person must travel outside the constraints of a community and discover his or her own true identity. On such a journey one can expect moments of planned reflection or unexpected instances of revelation. A journey is every minute of my existence, as I travel through life and try to ascertain my own presence in its cycle.
An essential journey occurred three years ago when I set out on a personal pilgrimage. I wanted to re-travel the time line of the past few years and locate the point where I had allowed the influence of others to determine my own concept of self. "Self" is not necessarily complex or intricate, but it does define the character of a person and how he or she wants to be viewed. In my own rush to "fit in" at college I had disregarded what I needed and complacently accepted the definitions of others. I expended my energy trying to model myself according to the contemplation of my peers, all the while ignoring principles which I felt were inherent to my survival. Once the missing feeling of singularity is discovered, an individual must set out upon a journey and reconstruct the notions of self and identity. Understanding my own needs, I decided to embark on a solo expedition into the woods of Maine.
The solo was an opportunity to disassociate myself from everything that I considered comfortable and safe. For two nights the only person I encountered was myself.
After several days of paddling, my guide and I neared the island where...
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...d in an unknown surrounding and somehow I had become part of it. I welcomed the crash of an animal over my tent or the presence of the sand fleas. I journeyed into their environment a foreigner, and even in my most vulnerable stages of sleep, I had become an accepted presence. While on my solo I wrote a letter to myself. In the letter I revealed what I had learned and what it meant to realize my own strength and will in those few days of solitude. I gave the letter to my guide and asked him to send it to me in a year.
I remember the day the letter came. At first I did not recognize the faded words on the envelope, but as soon as I glanced at the return address I knew that they were my own. I once again sought solitude. In a small corner of my family's flower garden I opened the letter and began reading. The first words I read were "remember the Medicine Wheel."
After looking into the journey and obstacles he faced to scale this dangerous and intimidating mountain, I noticed with each stop at each rest area he had learned something different about himself or established a new outlook about the journey. But it was not until they were in the final leg of the journey in which he learned his greatest lesson about himself. It was during the last leg that he realized he had spent most of the day looking at “how far he had to go,” instead of relishing in “how far he had come.” After stating he normally views things as “the glass half empty” I realized, I too, have a similar outlook on life. It was in this moment that I realized perception has a large impact on how I maneuver throughout life, bringing the popular phrase “mind over matter” to my
That journey means that every day is a new change or a new transformation of who she is, and where she is going. She also highlights the idea throughout the text that the journey is one that everyone must take in order to discover themselves. Thus, the essay or story is about self discovery at its most basic. Understanding this allows the reader to see the importance of curiosity, of asking questions, and of heading into the unknown without questioning the journey
The path which one chooses to follow is unique and often idiosyncratic in comparison to those around them. In the novel, Siddhartha, by Herman Hesse, the young protagonist quickly separated himself from the path of his brethren in search of his own destiny. Much is similar in Geshe Michael Roach’s Meditation and Jess Row’s For You, where the main characters of both short stories escape their comfort zones in search for answers to their own eternal questions. Throughout the three pieces, it is observed that the characters had trouble finding their paths. With the guidance and wisdom of each person they encountered, the protagonists were able to discover their own destiny, learn from their mistakes, and realize that their questions can be answered with an understanding of love. Through each journey, a common theme arises in the practice of meditation which leads the reader to understand that, regardless of the question, the answer is always love. Through the unconditional appreciation of all things, the questions begin to answer themselves.
Donelson, Kenneth L., and Alleen Pace. Nilsen. Literature for Today's Young Adults. 7th ed. Boston: Pearson/Allyn and Bacon, 2005. Print.
A physical journey occurs as a direct result of travelling from one place to another over land, sea or even space. The physical journey can occur individually or collectively, but always involves more than mere movement. Instead physical journeys are accompanied by inner growth and development, catalysed by the experiences and the decisions that impact the outcome of the journey. These journey concepts and the interrelationship between physical and emotional journeys is exemplified in the text; The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost, the children’s book Lost and Found by Oliver Jeffers and the film Stand By Me directed by Rob Reiner.
...iance, readers are capable of seeing how citizens in the world today try to be independent of others and sustain their personal beliefs and philosophy. Individuals have to put an end to conformity and trying to be a duplication of everyone else because they will never achieve success if they never decide for themselves. A person must not rely on the judgment and minds of others and learn to think for him or herself since depending on others only exhibits a person’s inferiority to larger institutions. People must stop using travel as an excuse to evade personal problems because if they do not have a direct confrontation with the dilemma, trying to escape will only lengthen it. People in today’s society must appreciate this work so they will approve of their individuality and be stronger in fighting against everyone else that disagrees with their personal philosophy.
Swift, W.H, . C.J. Touhill, W.L. Templeton, and D.P. Roseman. 1969. Oil spillage prevention, control, and restoration—state of the art and research needs. Washington, D.C.: The Bureau of National Affairs, Inc.
On April 20, 2010, the Deepwater Horizon oil rig, located in the Gulf of Mexico exploded killing 11 workers and injuring 17. The oil rig sank a day-and-a-half later. The spill was referred to as the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, BP oil spill, Gulf of Mexico oil spill, and BP oil disaster. It was first said that little oil had actually leaked into the ocean but a little over a month later the estimate was 12,000-19,000 barrels of crude oil being leaked per day. Many attempts were made to stop the leak but all failed until they capped the leak on July 15, 2010, and on September 19 the federal government declared the well “effectively dead.” In the three months that it took to finally put a stop the leak, 4.9 million barrels of oil were released into the ocean. The spill caused considerable damage to marine and wildlife habitats and the Gulf’s fishing and tourism industries. The White House energy advisor, Carol Browner, goes as far to say that the Deepwater oil spill is the “worst environmental disaster the US has faced.”
I was born and raised in New York City and lived there until the summer of 2008. In the 14 years of living in New York City, I had numerous events that influenced my life. Each event serves as a memory of something that once was. Trying to decide which memorable event from my past to write about is difficult because many of the events in my life have shaped me into the person I am. To narrow down an event, I am choosing to write about my experience of attending Green River Preserve summer camp located in North Carolina, where I learned to appreciate nature and all the living things around me.
Throughout life, we are faced with endings that are challenging to accept, and those challenges can also create undesirable occurrences that are inevitable. While most transitions are uncomfortable, the process of accepting a new journey is essential for personal growth. Ending a comfortable way of life and entering into an unknown territory can be an intimidating experience which can force a person to stay in their comfort zone. Why do new experiences make individuals feel lost or undecided about their direction in life? In Transitions: Making sense of life’s changes, the author William Bridges, guides his readers through three stages of change, which include, the ending, the neutral zone, and new beginnings. According to Bridges, transitions start with an ending, however, it is the ending that starts with a beginning. Part of the beginning and ending process is an important portion of the cycle, barriers have to end in
“The Pros and Cons of the Death Penalty in the USA.” Capital Punishment.org. 20 August 2011. Web 5 October 2011.
It was a tragic journey. With many dangerous challenges I had to go through. It was August 1 when i started my journey, I was sailing from portugal. It took many rough weeks to finally discover this new place, almost 12 weeks. The journey was all worth the struggle, because it was an “enchanting New world”( what is this from). This journey of mine was inspired by Christopher Columbus, he was the inspiration for our ship to keep going. This was my journey.
I am by myself wearing my blue jeans and an old flannel shirt. It is cool outside but I decided to leave my gloves at home, feeling comfortable with my warm shirt and my sturdy boots.
I never really thought about where my life was going. I always believed life took me where I wanted to go, I never thought that I was the one who took myself were I wanted to go. Once I entered high school I changed the way I thought. This is why I chose to go to college. I believe that college will give me the keys to unlock the doors of life. This way I can choose for myself where I go instead of someone choosing for me.
Traveling alone has been proven to have more benefits for a person and it cuts costs by over half the price of traveling with a family or in a group. Most people think that traveling independently is frightening and dangerous so they opt out of doing it that way. In reality it’s not as bad as it’s perceived to be. “Traveling alone is no different than traveling in a group, there will always be people and safety resources out there to aid a person in danger “(Fordham). That idea is clear when it comes to populated dense places. There are many resources out in the world that can help or protect a person when needed. Just by studying up on the places that are going to be traveled is a smart way to be prepared. It also forces individuals to be smarter when it comes to where they are trekking and where to go with more precaution.