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In my previous blog posts beginning with, thoughts become things and subconscious mind programming, you were provided with some background of relatedness information that would provide you access to a better understanding of my perceptions of IT. Additionally, I posted the five stages of awakening in an effort to provide you with a point of reference for you to determine where you are currently at on your personal journey of awareness. It is not possible to get to where you're going if you don't know where you're at.

It's important that you understand that my observations (that have led to my current point of views) are not only based upon information from the ages, but also from my life experiences. I can only lay claim to my personal life experiences. This academic information, along with the mainstream science I share, I have studied over thirty years was developed by others and has contributed to my current point of view. It would be inappropriate for me to lay claim to any of the academic information or science that supports my personal point of view. My only intention of sharing these points of view with you, the reader, is to continue to relieve myself from the symptoms and self-interest that supports my ego or what I now choose to call - IT.

I'll start this conversation using the analogy of a merry-go-round on a children's playground. When you first get on, you're riding on the outer edge. It is all you can do to hang on the faster it goes because of centrifugal force. The closer to the center you get the less effort it takes, until you can simply stand up without holding on. Should you choose to exit the merry-go-round from the center point the reverse is true. The closer you get to getting off the more effort it takes. So how does one step off of life’s merry-go-round and the vicious cycle of it?

Consider the following facts:

1. Our point of view creates our behavior.

2. Our behavior creates our perceived reality.

3. Our perceived reality can only be changed by changing our point of view.

4. Our points of view are influenced by information and our experiences.

5. Over time this information along with our experiences creates our perceptions.

6. Our perceptions create our belief systems.

Perceptions create belief systems. By now you're probably asking yourself what is he talking about? If the first question that comes to your mind is, where do belief systems come from, I can offer up the following for your review and consideration.

Belief systems are generally formed in two ways: by our experiences, inferences, deductions or by accepting what others tell us to be true. Most of our core beliefs are formed when we are children with influence from outside sources like our parents, environment, social conditioning and peers. The truest definition of belief is the power that causes things to happen in one's life. Most people define belief as their inward convictions, or feelings of certainty about what something means. A belief is both mental and emotional and are deeply rooted within us at our subconcious level. 

The root of behavior change lies within one’s identity. When I realized that if I was going to change my experience of, being sick and tired of being sick and tired, I must first understand who I was , when no one was looking. So, in order for me to change my circumstances in my life I must first change my identity. I could not even begin unless I first gained the knowledge of who I was and how I got this way. Welcome to the rabbit hole.

My definition of identity is who you are, the way you think about yourself, the way you are viewed by the world and the characteristics that define you. Core Identity is the essence of who a person is. This unique “Core Identity” can be identified or described by attributes that belong to and describe an individual. Some unique characteristics (e.g. DNA signature, footprint) are immediately measurable at the moment of birth. According to well-known research there are 24 basic character strengths. These character strengths are also influencers in our formative years.

The Classification of Character Strengths are broken down into 5 areas:

1. Wisdom and Knowledge: creativity, curiosity, judgment, love of learning, perspective.

2. Courage: bravery, perseverance, honesty, zest.

3. Humanity: love, kindness, social intelligence.

4. Justice: teamwork, fairness, leadership.

5. Temperance: forgiveness, humility, prudence, self-regulation.

If you would like a deeper dive into core character strengths, please visit www.pathwaysforveterans.com and click on the members link. It will take you to a password protected page where you can type in the password “1veteran” and gain free access to your Via survey test and results. 

Further studies have shown that personality traits are also something you are born with, but their full expression can be modulated during your consciousness development with the right coaching approach.

The four personality types are classified as "novelty seeking" - characterized by impulsive actions; "harm avoidance" - marked by pessimism and shyness; “reward dependence" - with an addictive personality; and "persistence" - who are people who tend to be industrious, hard-working and perfectionist.

My personality type is. “reward dependence”.

My top 5-character strengths are 1. Spirituality, 2. Perspective, 3. Love, 4. Creativity, 5. Bravery.

Once you have determined personality traits and character strengths you have the basic information to prepare youself for your personal transformational journey.

Next blog post: Breaking down IT into bite size pieces for easier digestion.

Blessings,

Braveheart