You have probably noticed that, so far this week, I am responding to messages left for me, usually in connection to a past WCN email. I confess. Some of these responses have been sitting on my desk for a while, waiting for my response. A few have been easy, while some have taken a little more thought.

I had written a few messages about "beliefs" which caused a reader to send this message back:

"If you're not happy with yourself or self-image, are you talking about changing your character that you portray? Is it possible to change your knowing self--the one that knows you don't like your character?"

I have had to ponder my response. I know individuals who hide behind masks in order to get through the day. This has become a survival mechanism for them, and actually betrays the good-hearted human beings the world deserves to know. I also know people who, when faced with the opportunity to do a little self-reflection, need to talk about themselves in the third person, in order to get some perspective.

What I want to encourage these folks to be is honest with themselves. The reader's "knowing self" is our conscience reminding us that we are going against who we really are. And if we don't like our character, then take action to change it. If need be, find individuals with the qualities that we want to have, then go from admiration to assimilation, using the affirmation and visualization processes.

We don't need to portray anyone other than who we are. And we have the freedom to make the choice of positive, contributive change when who we are isn't who we want to be.