Have you ever wondered, even for just a split second, why am I here? What should I be doing? I'm sure I should be doing something? What's the point? What's my life purpose?

If you answered yes to any of the above, then continue to read this article. My only purpose here is to serve as the key to unlock your true self, so you may bask in the glory of unconditional love and an inner peace so profound that it is not measurable against any other emotion.

What is the meaning of our "True self"? Our true self is comparable to a perfect canvas, one that has no marks, smudges, holes or signs of wear and tear.

Imagine standing in an art gallery looking at an oil painting depicting a beautiful place. It makes you feel happy and warm, and the more you gaze at it, a peaceful smile radiates from your face. This is your true self shining through. It is one of pure bright light and unconditional love. In an instant you are distracted onto the next thing, and the feeling is forgotten. There are numerous examples of this, but it is only when we begin to question the differences in these emotions do we gradually awaken our true selves.

We all have the ability to open the door to our true self, we just don't know it. There are no dangers, expectations or limitations. It's ours and it's free, so what are we waiting for?

Most of us need a little guidance and steering in the right direction. Initially we are unaware that this subtle guidance is taking place, as our "ego self" consciously ignores messages sent to nurture us along both our physical and spiritual path.

What is our "ego self"? Our ego self embodies what we are right now. How many times have you had those little two sided conversations with yourself in your head? One side affirms something positive, only to be immediately squished by a negative thought. This is our ego self. Our ego selves are a product of our own deception, based around an illusion of materialism, fear, guilt, greed, violence, noise, speed, physicality, and most of all mistrust in our true selves.

Two of the main culprits in our thought habits are fear and guilt. I use the word habit as habits are formed over a period of time, and equally can be broken over a period of time. Once we have mastered letting go of fear-based thought and guilt, created by our own egos, and learnt to trust and listen to our true selves, we will enjoy life to a whole new level of contentment and peacefulness.

We are the artists creating our own masterpieces of life. No experience is required, just belief in our true selves. Below are a few ideas and mini mental exercises to get your brain and thought processes warmed up. Choose a couple that resonate with you and make them part of your daily routine.

• Make the first thing you do when you wake up be a smile. You don't have to know why you are smiling just do it because you can.

• Look out of any window in your house and find something, anything that catches your interest. Stare at it for a while, analyze it and wonder at its shape, colour, beauty and most of all it's energy. Whether living or inert all matter is a mass of energy ready and waiting to share with you.

• During a relatively quiet part of your day, perhaps when you're cleaning, washing up, ironing, having lunch, etc., try to listen to the conversation occurring in your head. It sounds hard but it isn't. Most of the time our ego selves are working really hard to block it out. You may only get snippets to start with, but with more practice you'll be able to pick up more. This is the area that everyone needs to work on. It's like increasing the weights on a certain piece of gym equipment, we want to develop and refine our thought processes as they hold the key to unlock our true selves.

• Always remember the one basic rule, positive attracts positive. Everything positive you give out will be returned to you in equal or greater quantities. Fill your mind with positive happy thoughts about anything you like, big or small. Remember practice makes perfect, and you and you alone are in control of your own mind.

Gail Lofthouse is a Registered Nurse and Intuitive Healer. Wife and mother of two, she lives in Perth, Western Australia.

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