Judgement and Identity.
It is a ridiculous notion to believe that you get to define your own identity. There are so many factors at play to influence you into the person you are today. Your identity is negotiable but it is not yours to define. You get to vote every day for your identity based on the actions you take and the words you speak. All is knowable, but not everything can be known in a lifetime. You have to build an identity piece by piece. Day by day. Hour by hour. Minute by minute. You build yourself with every breath. And one day you will die, so do not worry about how you are judged for your identity. Simply be. Speak what you believe to be true and accept the response of the world, unless you know in your heart of hearts that you are right and “they” are wrong. But who is “they,” and how can they even judge you? You will never read their minds, and their words can only hurt you if you allow them to become embedded in your Spirit.
To understand this, it is important to reflect on the perspectives of Gnosticism, Christianity, and the concept of the Pleroma. Each of these traditions provides insight into the nature of identity and the relationship between self and the divine.
In Gnosticism, the essence of identity is deeply intertwined with the notion of divine knowledge (gnosis) and the quest for spiritual awakening. Gnostics believe that the true self is a spark of the divine trapped in the material world, which is seen as flawed or illusory. According to Gnostic thought, our earthly identity is a mere shadow of our higher, spiritual essence. The process of self-discovery is thus less about self-definition and more about remembering or awakening to our true nature, which is connected to the divine fullness of the Pleroma. The Pleroma represents the totality of divine attributes, a realm of pure unadulterated existence from which the material world emanates. In this light, personal identity is seen not as something we construct but as something we uncover through spiritual enlightenment. The Gnostic perspective encourages us to transcend the superficial judgments of the material world and align ourselves with this higher, divine reality.
Christianity offers another perspective on identity through its focus on divine creation and redemption. According to canon Christian doctrine, each individual is created in the image of God, suggesting that our identity is fundamentally linked to a divine blueprint rather than a construct of our own making. The Christian understanding of identity is deeply relatable and is framed within the context of one’s relationship with the Christ. This view posits that while we actively participate in our spiritual growth and moral development, our true identity is given to us and revealed through the grace of God. Christians are encouraged to live according to the teachings of Jesus, which involves embracing love, forgiveness, and humility. In this context, identity is both a gift and a responsibility, continuously shaped by divine guidance and human choices.
The Pleroma, a concept central to both Gnosticism and early Christian thought, represents the goodwill of mankind and the ultimate source of all reality. Within this framework, human identity is seen as part of a larger cosmic order. In both traditions, the Pleroma symbolizes the ultimate truth and completeness that individuals strive to reconnect with. Understanding oneself as a fragment of the divine can shift the focus from self-definition to self-discovery, revealing that our true nature is bound up with the divine essence rather than isolated or self-created.
Thus, integrating these perspectives, one can argue that identity is not merely a matter of personal construction or external validation. It is a complex interplay of divine essence, spiritual awakening, and relational understanding. The judgments of others, as well as our own self-perceptions, are transient and secondary to the deep unchangeable reality of the waking world in which we live.
Do not become attached to what others think of you. It matters little what they think. Reflect on how often you yourself are wrong about others. You must forgive others for what they think and say of you. Criticism is more often than not just folly. Seek instead to help others. It is only through the interactions of truly good-hearted people that you will find useful and practical advice. In doing so, you align yourself with a higher purpose. Forgive and you will not be judged harshly. You will become your true Self.
