Who Am I Becoming

Who am I becoming?

Inspired by the daily writings of Fusatsu - Apriel Jessup-Searcy

Am I improving as I journey on the path of enlightenment, or am I actually sliding backwards? How much resistance am I putting up? I often wonder about this. I know the only way forward is to forgive myself for the past and be grateful for today's adventures, however you define that.

In Zen Buddhism, this question invites us to look beyond the labels we carry, the stories we tell ourselves, and the identities we have built over time.

We often believe we must discover some fixed, unchanging self, hidden within us. Yet Zen reminds us that life is constantly unfolding. We are not who we were yesterday. We are shaped by each moment, each encounter, and each choice in the present moment, all of which move us forward. There’s no going back.

To name ourselves, then, is not to create a rigid identity. It is to awaken to the freedom we have in this very moment. I give thanks that I’ve released the past, forgiven myself, and use my Buddhist practice to release the idea that anything I’ve done or been through will never leave me.

Perhaps yesterday we responded to frustration with anger. Today, we can choose patience. Perhaps we have been living in fear. Today, we can take one small step toward courage. This is the practice of becoming.

When we sit quietly, we breathe and observe our thoughts. We begin to see that we are not required to follow every thought or repeat every habit. We can pause. We can respond peacefully from a higher place of consciousness. We can choose kindness even when circumstances are difficult.

“Our values become real not through the words we speak, but through the lives we live.

Today I Name Myself

Simple Practice: Take a quiet breath and ask yourself:

What value will I bring into the world today and embody?

Name it. Speak it out loud. Let your actions give it life.