As it turns out, our culture is one of the few which does not acknowledge that living beings can commune with their prior energetic (and genetic) predecessors. The latter we can easily describe, our physical contributors of genetic material, but what about our emotional and psychic contributors? Well, these are equally important considerations. The un-repaired damage of their lives will impact our own.
-Stephen Cahill

In the past few weeks, anything to do with self-awareness has peaked my interest. I recently received an email from a friend, Stephen Cahill, that did just that.

Buried in online tests, self-exploration, and goal-setting worksheets I’ve considered the benefits and repercussions of learning more about one’s self. The benefits are more obvious, in that we are well acquainted as a culture in the exploration of success and traits we can identify that will contribute to that. Acquaintances definitely are not strong or deep understandings, but we are downright strangers to addressing any baggage uncovered in the process.

I recently tweeted: “I know life can be manageable, but there seem to be so many unmanageable things to sort through along the way.”

These acquaintances and strangers are our predecessors. A self-ancestry that makes up who we are. Familiarity with each, good or bad, provides the information necessary to live authentically. This authenticity is essential to success. It’s your own family reunion, but everyone in attendance is you. You have your favorites and you have those you avoid at all costs. Unfortunately, this means any feuds become a direct barrier to our own success. Also, like your extended family, most of us don’t know everyone. For example, I’m naturally skilled at being interpersonal but have discovered that this predecessor has an in-law I’ve never met, shyness, uncertainty, and lack of confidence and they are deeply at odds with each other.I cannot learn more if I’m unable to communicate with them. I am blocked from an important aspect of my own diversity.

I cannot learn more if I’m unable to communicate with them. I am blocked from an important aspect of my own diversity.

I really appreciate Stephen’s perspective, as it brings light to something we almost never think about when considering diversity. The conversation is very often around the physical, sociological, racial, cultural, and occasionally psychological. I think to Stephen’s point on our culture, the attention is rarely emotional or psychic in nature. We know our physical/genetic ancestry (even more so thanks to new technology) before we know the names and contributed pasts of everyone in this larger self-kin.

Our predecessors of whom take these emotional, psychic, and genetic forms all require attention. They are formations that can help unlock our best selves. This means like with any diversity, the right accommodations and support will unlock assets previously unavailable. This is applicable to the self, but also in any workplace or community.

The problem being, without being able to take the exploration to those closest to you and to whom their earth-lives have already past, we’re still very much in the dark.

Greater cultural awareness and sensitivity to this self-ancestry would go a long way. Currently, the journey appears to be one that must be self-initiated and is often solo. If with others, it’s with a new group who are only beginning to contribute to your emotional and psychic selves. The problem being, without being able to take the exploration to those closest to you and to whom their earth-lives have already past, we’re still very much in the dark.

Most importantly, we need to understand this complicated diversity exists in each of us and those around you.

What might be some firsts steps in exploring predecessors of the emotional and psychic forms with ourselves and others? How can we unlock this diversity?