Isn't amusing how from a very young age we have strove to be part of something larger, a group or clique, a society or gang, whatever label we choose to distinguish it by, to give us some component of acceptance. I remember growing up, how I tried so hard to be part of the "cool" group... and I am not certain what it was that attracted me to them. As grew up more there were the "heads" and then the "jocks" , and on reflection I realized that I never became part of anything. The more I tried the more I became discriminating to others, and the more I noticed I was discriminated against, for no one person with in any of those groups had the definative ability to accept me or approve of me. How could they? We were all in search of the same thing... a common place to hide in hopes that the group could validate our identity or confirm it, but what I noticed is that I became a chameleon to belong.
In my practice to assist peopel to discover themselves, I often speak of humans as still an animal in many spects of our existance. We are a herd animal that continues to want to belong to something that is grander than us, that will help to identify whom we are. Our seach can best be summed up as we are in search of acceptance and unconditional love of us for whom we really are, an acceptance that hasn't existed since we were very young. Back then no matter how goofy or cranky, how fast or slow we were we were accepted by our parents no matter what. There was bliss in this herd, for we could be safe to be whom we were, without fear of judgement or ridicule.
There is a new buzz or maybe just a buzz out there in the world that really tries to draw our attention to the greatness that we have within. Phenomenon such as the Secret, or the Power of Now, really focus on a simple premise that somehow we have gotten away from... that we are great and no amount of validation or approval from an outside source could ever replace the genuine article, the acceptance of ourselves and the offerance of unconditional love starting from within. Who could love us moreor better than ourselves? No one! In searching for a body of people to give to us that which is ours by birth...our love for ourselves and acceptance of the greatness that lives within.
Break free from the herd and be well.