“This is who I am” really define you?

The Fluidity of Self

The phrase “This is who I am” might be a fleeting illusion.

“I’ve always been this kind of person.”

“I’m someone who gets hurt easily.”

“I’m weak and fall apart quickly.”

We often live our lives pinning ourselves to a single,

defined sentence.

Yet, as the Buddhist principle of dependent origination teaches:

“Because this exists, that exists;

when this ceases, that also ceases.

”Nothing exists independently;

everything arises temporarily due to

conditions and connections.

This realization brings profound change

to how we view ourselves.

The Self Is Not a Fixed Entity

Psychologist William James described the self as:

“The self is a constantly changing stream of experiences,

never fixed.

”The self is not a solid entity but a phenomenon momentarily shaped by relationships.

• The words you’ve heard

• The environment you grew up in

• The people who loved you, and those who hurt you

All these conditions come together to create the “you” of this moment.

Therefore, the “you” of now is capable of change.

Pain and Self-Blame Are Not Eternal

“I’m always anxious.”

“I’m always blaming myself.”

Even these emotions don’t stem from a fixed self;

they are temporary responses born from conditions and connections.

Perhaps you didn’t sleep well,

or someone’s words wounded you,

or an old memory resurfaced from your subconscious.

If pain arises from a convergence of causes,then

when those causes shift or fade,

the pain can also fade.

New Connections Create a New You

We are constantly meeting new people,

reading new books,and stepping into new spaces.

Each of these encounters becomes a new connection,

sparking fresh emotions and perspectives,and ultimately shaping

a new version of “you.

”The self-blame, lethargy, or anxiety

you feel nowcan transform in the presence of new connections.

So Today, It’s Okay to Live Anew

We often cling too long to the belief that the “me” of

now is a fixed reality.

But dependent origination reminds us:

“Everything changes, and everything is interconnected.”

You are not a finished product

but a process being shaped in this very moment.

So today, it’s okay to live a little differently.

• It’s okay to feel a slightly different emotion.

• It’s okay to make a slightly different choice.

Don’t let the “you” of this moment bring you

too much pain.

You are a being capable of becoming new in every moment.