(n) meme – a cultural unit (an idea or value or pattern of behavior) that is passed from one person to another by non-genetic means (as by imitation)) “memes are the cultural counterpart of genes”
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about what it means to live authentically. What is truly authentic for the deepest part of me? What are conditioned beliefs through our culture (memes) that are so much a part of my life that I don’t even recognize an issue?
So nice to know that wherever my thoughts go, life then supplies learning opportunities, answers and even more questions to produce clarity. That’s known as synchronicity and one of my favorite aspects of connecting consciously with life.
Our conditioned beliefs are not easy to spot because they are so engrained, so automatic. And a meme is so much a part of the cultural pattern that we often don’t even see them as “beliefs.” (Abraham defines beliefs as thoughts we keep thinking over and over again.) And, as is true for any thought we keep thinking, there is an attraction pattern built around that thought which pulls to us all sorts of evidence to substantiate that belief. Once, however, that belief/thought becomes conscious, then it is possible to make a decision about it. We can consciously choose whether we want to continue to hold that belief (and therefore, the attraction of things to support it), or change the thought/belief to something else and create a new attraction pattern.
As I listened to a Consciousness Playground recording recently, I became aware of a thought pattern that no longer serves me. It was brought to my attention just by noticing the first thoughts I typically had as I awoke. What I discovered was, “What do I ‘have’ to do today?” As I felt for the underlying, more subtle energy, I discovered, “What do I ‘have’ to do (accomplish, produce) that will make me feel like a worthwhile human being?” And even under that was a circular pattern that whatever I did accomplish never quite measured up to fully being “worthwhile.” Wow, never knew that was there, and no wonder I fall into a recurring pattern of setting up “too much to do!”
In speaking to others, it seems that “What do I have to accomplish today?” is a common thought upon waking, though the underlying energies might be slightly different. I heard fear, or protection, themes, as in “what must I accomplish so that something bad doesn’t happen to me or my loved ones?” “Shame” and “guilt” also showed up.
So, what does understanding of this meme mean for me in choosing to live authentically? My biggest learning opportunity revolves around how to promote my products and services in ways that feel authentic. At this point in my life “authentic” means maintaining a deep sense of connection to inner peace, freedom and joy. There is no doubt of worthiness in inner peace. There are no have-to’s in freedom. There is no overwhelm in joy.
My now practice is to think new thoughts upon waking. To bask in peacefulness as I go to sleep so that this energy can be present when I awake. To feel for the freedom of potentiality in each new morning, not for what can be accomplished in that day, but for the experiences I’m drawn to, I attract. To commit (once again!) to taking action from a place of excitement that is founded in joy.
Check out this free ebook on living authentically that Anisa Avens supplied as resource just yesterday. Synchronicity always!
Integrative Action Steps for You to Live More Authentically:
- Name 3 primary feelings you associate with connecting to your deep, authentic self
- What % of your day are you experiencing these feelings?
- What 1 belief could you change that would affect this %? (Try looking at the thought that is most prevalent when you awake!)
- What new thought(s) do you want to choose?