Human beings are extraordinary expressions of life. Our intelligence, potential, compassion and creativity is unrivaled by any other life form. Yet, when it comes to the practice of these gifts, our ideals rarely become our realities. And it is bewildering how we fail to express these qualities with those whom are closest to us. Our kindness oftentimes seems to be more fluent with strangers than it is our family and friends.
There is an important distinction to discover as we are living our lives on this earth that is continually overlooked in the midst of our daily distractions, dramas and preoccupations. We can submit to “being human,” or we can choose “human being.” Though it appears to be semantics, there is a massive difference. The distinction is found in the expression of our consciousness, fellowship and love.
“Being human” is eating, sleeping, working, talking, driving our cars, watching television, debating, being entertained, comforting ourselves and ultimately attempting to escape the bitter agony of our common social reality. It is a mental perception that perpetuates a lifestyle of conditions, expectations, entitlements and stolen advantages for the benefit of the one at the cost of others. Being human is the default program to which we regress when we lack consciousness and compassion, thus sustaining our selfishness. This element of our nature is displayed most powerfully in the quality of emotions with which we chose to react to the people and circumstances in our lives.
“Human being” is quite distinct from being human. It is not merely an expression of awareness and conscience. It is kindness, understanding, acceptance, giving for the simple opportunity to give and offering our service to others without attachment. Human being is our natural expression. It is not just reaching our full potential; it is living it, and in so doing, inspiring others to live theirs. When we choose to transcend our conditions, fears, dramas, attachments and the entitlement of being human, we embrace our ability to love, yet as importantly, to forgive, which is truly what it is to “be” human.
“Being humans” are everywhere. They cut each other off in traffic. They resort to upset with each other when their expectations aren’t met. They become frustrated when their agendas and strategies aren’t successful. They may interpret this as a challenge to their authority or false sense of personal power. They have a tendency toward manipulating and controlling others and circumstances through family and workplace politics, even unbeknownst to themselves. Being humans are also very clever in their ability to utilize expressions of guilt, sadness and even depression to supplement the rackets they play upon themselves and others.
“Human beings” are focused on staying present in the moment and the lessons that the people and their experiences bring to their lives. They are inspired and empowered toward being proactive and fulfilling upon whatever mission they commit. There is an understanding and lifestyle of acceptance, faith, intention and belonging applied to everything they are and do. The possibilities and perceptions they embrace and employ are boundless and eternal. Human beings approach their life and living it equivalent to the wonder, curiosity and selfless honesty and innocence of a child. Their authenticity is so endearing; nothing else within their environment can endure.
We live in a conditional society. When we choose to be true about ourselves, we see that the roots of our conditions, rules, restrictions, stipulations and laws stem from the seeds of our very own fears, worries, concerns, failures, upsets, hurt and pain. This is at the heart of being human. Our dark nature and inclination toward enabling our unhealthy behaviors and patterns always lead to closing the windows and doors of ourselves from the world and throwing away the key for our safe keeping.
These are the conditions of our lives. The barriers we construct from years of repressing our insanity and confusion. We hand over our personal power to the invisible monsters that reside within us all. We ourselves sustain the darkness in the world with our denial, unconsciousness, self-righteousness, disinterest, reactivity, envy and hatred. Yet, these traits are never motivated by a person, event, experience or thing. It is simply our loathing of the part of ourselves we see in others and the circumstances in our external environment. It takes a human being to transcend the vicious cycles and schemes we run on ourselves.
This is why we are here, on this earth, at this time. When we fail to receive these inner messages with our intuition, we may be introduced to someone who pushes the same buttons within us we push with ourselves. They serve as a mirror to us offering a valuable key to the enigma we can be to ourselves. When we continue to miss the lessons the people we attract into our lives bring us, we have experiences such as hurting ourselves, getting into an accident, or losing something or someone precious to us to remind us of the work upon which we must fulfill. We are not meant to be slaves to our identity; we are created to be champions for our own freedom.
The very quality of our lives and how they eventually end is further testimony to whether we are living as a “being human” or a “human being.” It is our destiny in this world not only to choose how we will live, yet as vitally, the degree of a difference we will make, not just in our lives, yet in the lives of everyone in our sphere of influence. Everyone has a difference to make and it is our responsibility as human beings to discover this.
Perhaps what ultimately distinguishes us as a “human being” from a “being human” is the empowerment and inspiration we engender upon others, especially those whom consciously or unconsciously chose to perform the role of a reflection for us. It is always when it is least wanted and with people whom may be our bitterest adversaries.
The greatest strength and courage we will ever discover is in our willingness to hear and accept the truth of ourselves and apply it to our daily lives. All that stands in our way of transforming ourselves and achieving our fullest expression of living is our self-righteousness, fixed perceptions, attachments, reactions and fears. It is the invisible prison we construct in our lives with our conditions that disrupt, distort and destroy the blessing it is of “human being.” In essence, we are the only ones that get in our way.
We are both ‘being humans” and “human beings.” It is simply a choice we make of who we are going to be in any given circumstance, in any given moment with any given person. The greatest personal power we will ever achieve in our lives comes when we make the choice to be what we were born to be.
A human being.
Iam Saums 