Our True Self

Polonius tells Hamlet, "To thine own self be true", echoing the advice of Socrates, two thousand years before.  Jesus decries the hypocrisy he sees in the scribes and Pharisees who do not practice what they preach. (cf. Mt 23:1-12). They were not being true to themselves.  We might ask, "What is my true self?"  Can I describe it?  If not, then how can I be true to it?  Ego has  way of raising its "ugly head" in all of us, and it takes careful reflection and self-examination to sort through the images and projections of ourselves that we present to the world.  We tend to exalt ourselves in lieu of being what we really are.  Jesus says, it works the other way:  "Whoever exalts himself will be humbled and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.." (Mt 23:12).  When we realize that we are not the center of the universe, and that others have gifts and talents equal to, if not better than mine, then we can begin to see our true selves and act out of genuine humility.
Bro. Rene