...inner self

The phrase “Body, Mind and Soul” appears to sum up how society ranks all that we encompass as human beings. Body first, Mind second and Soul last.

In conversation with a colleague recently I was curious if he had a ‘type’, when it came to seeking a partner. He candidly said "No...", that it was more about personality and interests but then ended by mentioning that of course she had to be ‘good looking’ – whatever ‘good looking’ meant to him. So it seems that on a communal and individual level, we are commonly unable to access the Mind and Soul of others without first prioritising the visual.

Societies around the world are constructed and interpreted on the visual - for once this spans across the developed and developing world and from northern to southern hemispheres, regardless of race, gender or ethnicity. I’m sure there is research data available that could both inform and perhaps shock us, about how much time we each on average spend attending to our outward appearance. From thinking about it, to actioning it and all the stages in between.

So it seems that visual appearance is all powerful in our world…

But what about our inner selves, how much time do we invest in developing who we are? I don’t mean our Minds, in terms of developing the rational, analytical part of ourselves. This ranks a clear second in terms of the knowledge we seek to acquire and the skills we attain. The education of our minds. Also, I don’t mean our inner selves as our Soul, the emotional, moral and spiritual part of who we are.  It’s true that for most whilst the Body and Mind remains core, the Soul is frequently not even considered an essential part of life today.

So what is missing from the above that can help us understand these disparate elements?

For me it’s intuition that helps me to feel and discern the rational to the emotional. That doesn’t mean I don’t utilise the rational but within the black and white of wrong and right – I like to feel that sense of grey. So that not only does something look right but it feels right too. I’m not talking about emotion but more like a perception or an intrinsic and often unquantifiable sensation. My intuitive self, is the real me, I can’t explain me in this context, others can truly only access it by feeling who I am. It’s not a visual or intellectual embodiment.

From a spiritual perspective I wonder if intuition is what drew and kept the disciples following Jesus? The visual (including the miracles the disciples witnessed), didn’t completely allay their doubts and fears and leaving all their possessions and family to follow Jesus could not be categorised as rational. But their intuition told the Disciples that Jesus was the Son of God. The writings from the Prophets rationally pointed the Disciples in that direction too but it was their intuition and ultimately faith that led them to truly believe.

Developing our intuition is an internal way of understanding and sensing our true selves, what we believe and feel.

So I wonder whether God is intuition, the intrinsic centre of who we are.