Peniel: Identity is Not the I

[yezida]

What happens when we don't feel strong? What happens when our identity is so wrapped up in what we do that we forget who we are becoming

Comments

[alfrecht]

As the Scholastics used to say, agere sequitur esse, "to do follows to be/doing follows being"...

Though, I've often wondered if perhaps working it from the opposite end also isn't useful in some cases...

Someone I knew was telling me that he wasn't a good or virtuous person, and therefore he couldn't do good and virtuous things. I think he was being unfair with himself in general (as he was not malicious, just lazy), but in his case, I'd have suggested that doing good things and acting in ways that are good and virtuous would lead to being good and virtuous. So, I suppose that would be esse sequitur agere instead...?!?

[tristissima]

Here we come to one of my favorite elements of Latin! (And of course, you know this, Doctor Phillupe). Though your translation is quite obviously the preferred one, due to the order of the words, it must be remembered that order carries little to no semantic information in Latin.

Meaning that agere sequitur esse can, legitimately, be read as both! This sort of ambiguity can have quite a bit of meaning . . .

[alfrecht]

True enough, my dear friend...

So, perhaps it is best taken both ways (like so many things in life...?!?)...

[matrinka69]

Fake it 'til you make it.

You don't start any journey at your destination. You start right where you're at and work towards where you want to be.

[shadowandstar]

This is helpful and affirming to me in so many ways.
Thank you.

[shi_rawi_wittem]

Thank you thank you thank you. I keep forgetting that all the time.