Much has been argued from Shakespeare's lines, "To be or not be," placed as the opening of Hamlet. While many conceive a correlation with death, I have my own take on the possible meaning.
Over the years I have been uncovering my own layers of what is known as "the shadow." According to Carl Jung, the shadow is prone to projection, turning a personal inferiority into a perceived moral deficiency in someone else. These projections cripple individuals by forming an even thicker fog of illusion between the ego and the real world; they lead us to create a particular interpretation about ourselves.
The manner in which we actualize that interpretation is directly related to what we wish to hide about ourselves, thus giving rise to the term "shadow."
In 1999, I was privileged enough to run into someone who inspired me to learn more about the effects of the shadow. I became aware of how the wave of extended beliefs create a devastating ripple effect carried throughout our body, mind and spirit, touching everything we hold sacred, including our relationships. In a very surreal and intense weekend course, I awoke and recognized how much of my thought processes had affected my condition of fibromyalgia. This condition was so intolerable that thoughts of suicide came as a result of severe depression and the inability to manage pain.
Once I learned the five simple techniques offered by the "More to Life" team of experts, I went to work in disabling the patterns and behaviors I had entangled as a unit within my mind. The transformation was profoundly significant, and since then I have adopted the role of advocate and mentor for others to take a step into this realm of consciousness. I can now attest that "to be" is a state of awareness of self, sustained by that which we proceed from. The fundamental underlying force of all creation, an enigma I refer to as Love.
What did Shakespeare suggest when posing "not to be" in the form of a question? Anyone who has traveled the rocky roads of self-transformation can tell you that embarking on a journey of discovery is not for the faint at heart. It requires a warrior's heart and a fierce determination to conquer the unknown. One must behold the intention of spiritual awakening with the mindset that regardless of what happens, one is already the winner. Day after day the only requirement is to fearlessly make a clear choice, saying "yes" to life as it comes without wishing to skew pain. As said by Kahlil Gibran: "Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding."
Recognizing and letting go of one's resistance to be impacted by life's ebb and flow is what gives us a wider perspective of reality. In the grand scheme, we are called upon to view our experiences as opportunities, moving us closer toward evolution. So then, it is imperative that the question "or not to be" be considered and answered moment by moment.
I encourage you to engage in a journey of self-transformation where you ask yourself time and time again "to be or not to be." There are times when one must set aside that which we fear and allow our more instinctual senses to guide us. Getting through the times when I have put my heart out on the table have not been at all easy, but these experiences continue to expel all my inhibitions, making travel within the majestic passage of the soul nothing short of miraculous.
Need help? In the U.S., call 1-800-273-8255 for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.