Summary:
There is no separation in consciousness.  “I am” cannot be divided.   “I am that I am.”  I may forget who I am, where I am, what I am, but I cannot forget that I am.  The awareness of being remains.  My concept of myself determines the world in which I live, and my reactions to life.  “Let the weak man say, ‘I am strong.’”  There is only one "I am"; we create different concepts of it.  Consciousness is the one and only reality.  If my concept of myself (my consciousness) were different, everything in my world would be different.  I am is infinite and by my concept of myself, I am displaying only a limited aspect of the infinite “I am.” 

My interpretation:
I may consciously perceive myself to be many things: A man, a coach, a husband, a friend, etc.  These are all “I am’s,” or identities that I subscribe to being.  The truth is that I simply am.  These identities only represent a small portion of who I am the potential of being.  In realizing this truth, my awareness opens me up to choose new, empowering identities for myself.  It allows me to see the boxes I may be creating for myself.  In a way, it is like taking a bucket full of the ocean and declaring “This is the ocean.”  True, it is the ocean, but it only represents a minute portion of the whole;  It only represents a minute portion of the ocean's potential power.  A bucket full of the ocean may be able to put out a small fire, but the ocean as a whole moves continents.  When the weak man declares that he is strong – and he believes it – his world shifts.   He no longer sees the world through the eyes of a person who has self-labeled himself as weak.  He now sees the world and approaches it with the identity that “I am strong.”

Challenge:
Make a list of all your personal identities.  I am. . .  Do this now and when you feel you have written every conceivable identity you hold, come back to complete this challenge.

Get your list in hand. . . Read these instructions completely before beginning the exercise.  Read each identity you have listed, one at a time.  I am a . . .   Now answer to yourself aloud – no I am not.  The truth of who you really are ends with “I am.”  The identities are only small facets of the truth of who you really are and you limit yourself by believing your identities to be true. The objective of this lesson is to bring you to the truth that your identities limit you.  You are free to choose your identities.

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