Over the holidays I found a great book that I thought would make a wonderful start to our New Year! In the recent issue of O magazine Oprah interviewed Caroline Myss, an expert in the field of energy medicine and human consciousness, about her most recent book Archetypes.
In this relatively short read, Caroline help us answer the basic question “Who Am I?” which in turn helps us answer the question “Why Am I Here?” The definition of archetype presented in the book took me a few reads to absorb but the video on the Archetype Me website lays it out much simpler. Basically, you were born with your archetype. What we refer to as human nature is also our archetypal nature. Understanding our nature helps us better understand why we do what we do, and our areas of strength and challenge.
The whole thing is fascinating and somewhat funny as you start to see more and more of yourself emerge. I also found it to be quite liberating because for the first time I understood why I married my ex-husband. (For those of you who read Stand Up for You, I know you may have pondered this as well.) Try as I might, my rationale intellectual self just could not make heads or tails of that decision.
Do you have anything in your life where you ask yourself, what in the world was I thinking when I did that? It can be absolutely nerve wracking – especially when you think I am way too smart to have made that decision! But when I read the chapter on caregivers, I finally got it. I understood how my caregiver archetype could not conceive of leaving a person I perceived in need – no matter how many alarm bells I heard. For the first time, I understood what was going on in my head at the time. I wasn’t stupid or crazy but rather immature in understanding myself, and how best to manage the incredible gift of caring that God had given me. Just understanding me better helped free me from negative thoughts about myself. Isn’t that a great gift to start the year?
Part of this journey we’re on to love ourselves more fully has to be to understand ourselves. Knowing who we are and why we’re here is really the only way we can live abundantly, with passion and purpose. God created us as wonderful, amazing, complex creatures. Each of us has our own unique purpose in life, and yet we are bound together by similar patterns – our archetypes. Understanding and loving yourself allows you to offer the same measure of love and grace to others. Imagine how beautiful it would be if we all reached this level of awareness and acceptance!
I hope you’re curious! If so, here’s something quick you can do to get started. Go to the Archetype Me website and take the quiz. The entire process is free and takes about 4 minutes. (I promise!) You’ll get back your top three archetypes, which you can find out about online, or if you’re really intrigued you can get the book and dig deeper.
After taking the quiz come back and let me know what you think. My archetypes are caregiver-intellectual-spiritual. Who are you? I can’t wait to hear from you!
Here’s hoping our New Year is filled with big ideas, bold dreams, a great vision and the courage to take the steps we need to make it all happen.
It is your year to be your best Y-O-U!
Carlie says
My archetypes are Caregiver-Athlete-Intellectual. I look forward to discovering more about them! Thanks for the post. This is another great book I’m adding to my to-read list