The Intentional Self

From my previous post on beauty, “Guiding one’s stream of consciousness commands the ability to be adaptable in the face of disagreement between the guiding systems. Somewhere between the intuitive and refined lies the intentional self. In which the intentional self holds the discipline.”

The Entangled Being

Earlier this week, I wrote the above quotation. In that particular piece, it was necessary to leave the details minimal. However, I want to expand on this innate guidance system. Attempting to disentangle all that it means to be the “self” is a centuries-long thread of yarn; it’s an all-of-humanities long yarn that becomes further interwoven with any attempts at tidying. Pulling the string in one direction will shift attention, but that does not mean the problem is solved. No one person can argue what it means to be the “self,” as the idea itself molds to fit internal and external assumptions. Nonetheless, what interweaves the yarn is a cosmic pull of the string.

The entirety of all existing energy is interconnected through webs of entropy. Consciousness fills every state, animate and inanimate, passing through ideas of existence. Some are more complex than others. To be the “self” and experience the “self” are two different traits of consciousness that add a fated dimension to the interwoven string, consequently adding depth to the complicated features of an individual’s life. However, in experiencing the self, there lies an innate idea of preference. A preference for life. This predilection is decided by the system that guides the being’s core.

What drives the being can be found in the core self. To pilot a complex operation, there needs to be an inner form of simplicity. Within the self lies a guidance system that enables the observing self to encourage the perceiving self towards a direction. This guidance system stems from two branches. The first arm is the intuitive self, and the second is the refined self. Both arms comprise a larger guidance system for the individual, the intentional self.

The Intuitive Arm

Intuition is put to the test when facing decisions. Clarity is necessary for accessing this guidance, as imposters disguise themselves to hold power over the decision-making individual. To grasp the intuition, one must have the ability to find oneself in a place deeper than their perceiving self. The perceiving self is in other words, is the outer self. This is the self that is left up for judgment by both the inner being and other perceptual bodies. Experiencing as only the perceiving self leaves no room for understanding the person inside the judgment. Judgment stems from a sentient existence in the outer self. Imposters of intuition pose a threat to the being, arising primarily in the outer being, causing harm to the core. These imposters lead the individual down a false path, taking the reins of a control system that is not attuned for and proposing an illusion of self-detriment to the individual.

The path not led by intuition will not align with the core’s purpose. Distractions arise randomly, yet the intuitive arm can illuminate clarity. Accessing intuition from the outer being is a task that can be completed once the individual has first done the work to access the core. Here are the guiding principles that will steer one forward: Repetition of the same decision allows the individual to again make an intuitive choice. A choice aligned with the individual will not need to be repeated, as the path forward will present new challenges.

Challenge along the path does not indicate a falsehood of intuition. Having the ability to overcome challenges is what makes the intuitive path rewarding. A path with no hard choices is a path of misalignment. When there is no decision to be made, then there is no need for intuition. Misalignment can conjure up a numbness to the innate sentiment that exists within us. Overcoming challenges identifies an individual’s ability to see solutions, a key way to further develop oneself. The path of intuition is one of solution.

The Refined Arm

Tools enabling the individual to make a choice aligned with their core stem from the secondary arm of the guidance system. The refined arm. This arm is responsible for refining preference. For forming an opinion of what one thinks about what they think. Choice will always be presented, and it is an obligation to the self to make one. Once one is made, the individual can again decide what they think about their choice. Refinery is a skill that walks hand in hand with intuition. It is the honesty necessary to develop the clarity needed to know one’s intuition.

Refined preferences help to solidify intuitive measures. What is enriched through the development of taste supports the individual’s ability to know themselves. Taking a liking for one thing over another displays confidence in oneself. As long as the portrayed liking is rooted in honesty, and not in perceptibility. Honesty with oneself is the first step towards clarity. Dishonesty with the self begins to create a falsified version, an impostor self. To gain clarity, one must validate the state of being. Denying the self of necessities does not lead to discipline. Discipline is the art of balancing honesty with the self.

Developing an enriched self considers the ability to evolve. Paths will meet other paths, and short trails will branch off from the main path. Intersections and branches do not imply a fallacious way. Rather, they show a curiosity for possibility. Perhaps the branch facilitates development. In the case it does not, the individual can return to the place of decision. Ultimately, the possibility can serve as a lesson. Learning what one does not have a taste for is just as important as learning what one does have a taste for. Maintaining disciplined honesty with oneself will progress the individual on their path, either way.

The Intentional Self

Bringing both arms of the guidance system creates the intentional self. The self that is driven through intuitive and refined decisions to align them with their purpose, with their being. Residing in the core of the being, the intentional self communicates with the outer self, the actionable self. Upon knowing the core self, the individual can allow the intentional self to be the driver of the actionable self. Without knowledge of the intentional self, the actionable self will continue to make decisions based on perception. Decisions that are not based on the self. For decisions to be based on the self, they must come from the intentional essence of the being.

Embodying the intentional self is the ability to provide oneself with a solution. The path of intuition is a path of solution. Choice is an inevitable illusion, and we are fundamentally free to make decisions for consciousness. Decisions are made with intention and carried out through action. The labyrinthine that is the being can be boiled down to decision and action. All that is presented to us are endless occurrences that are extending an invitation to our consciousness to either respond or not to respond. The intentional self will continue to work with the actionable self for as long as the actions represent the disciplined honesty of intention. With that, the cosmic string will continue to pull as the path of the individual continues to unfold.