Essence. I like that word. It has a deep meaning without an easy explanation as to what it is. So, just this once, I have broken my blog-etiquette, unwritten rule, to not add a dictionary definition of any word, and tell you that according to Dictionary.com, essence is, “the basic, real, and invariable nature of a thing or its significant individual feature or features”. – Told you it was complicated.
So, now let’s try to simplify it, and make it apply to who we are. Essence to me means, core values and experiences. The essence of who I am comes from my belief that people deserve love and happiness, but it also comes from my experience that not everyone will find that in this lifetime. It involves, me believing that people are good, but not seeing this through my own eyes very often. Ok, so maybe me trying to simplify the meaning of essence has become complicated again because, well…I’m complicated. Sigh.
I wish I could wake up every day with the loving essence of me shining through any darkness my eyes invariably see. I wish I could laugh in the face of adversity, and always know that lessons come from hardship. But when I am in my monotonous depression mode, darkness and adversity team up and close-line me into the ropes, just like in a tag-team event in the WWE. Love and laughter seem to be sitting up in the nose-bleeds when I am down for the count – Out of sight, and definitely out of reach.
I’m praying and hoping that the happy essence of me returns soon. I promise I am trying. Positive self-talk, meditation, rest, eating healthier, going to meetings, and even drawing have been happening almost daily. But some things take more time than you’d like them to.
How would you describe your essence? I would love to hear your answers!
UpTalk Podcast
Paramedic Nat 
July 31, 2017 at 10:43 PM
I would love to hear how you describe your essence.
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August 1, 2017 at 5:15 AM
Hi Nat. A very thought provoking question! I guess I would describe my basic essence as a belief that people are basically good and I have a wish to help people.
I have a fantastic life and some amazing, wonderful people to share it with, I wish everyone was so fortunate. Like you I am a paramedic and in my daily work see a lot of darkness. I used to be distressed by how cruelly people treat each other. I started out life believing that people were basically good and loving, as a new paramedic this started to shake this belief. I read loads of books and articles on psychology, especially evolutionary psychology, and things seem to make a little more sense now. It seems to me that most cruel acts are carried out due to fear rather than evil – fear of loss, loss of image, loss of love, loss of security, and ultimately loss of life. An overly simple statement I know, but it helps me to see people as basically good, doing their best to cope with the fears in their lives. This is really reassuring to me.
Take care x
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August 1, 2017 at 9:21 AM
I love this reply! Thank you. I so agree with your thoughts about fear. Excellent point.
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August 1, 2017 at 7:49 AM
Hi Nat
It’s hard to see the positive right now, always being depressed. I’m trying to find just one thing positive everyday. It’s hard work and people are always there to trip you up. One step at a time. I have my granddaughter to give me those moments. I’m lucky. My essence is in hope and time, probably that doesn’t make sense to you, but it works for me. I wish for you to find your happiness. Take care. Leo
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August 1, 2017 at 9:22 AM
Hello! Hope and time makes perfect sense to me. I hope you find happiness soon!
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August 1, 2017 at 11:00 AM
Hi Nat,
I think that if I had to describe my essence, I would have to say it is people. Not just people that are close to me or even known to me, but people in general. This causes me a certain amount of pain and struggle in my professional and semi-professional lives, but long ago I decided that it was far more important to me to experience the joy and diversity of individual people than to tune out and disconnect. It is strange for an introvert to say, but the experience of deeply knowing another person and being granted admission to even a little portion of their life is something that brings me deep enjoyment and breathes life into my soul.
That being said, it is hard to deeply know and be known by another person in our current day and age, so I sometimes struggle with this…
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August 1, 2017 at 11:19 AM
I love this! Thank you Matt! I can so relate to the introvert part of your comment. I so appreciate the share.
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