Article January 29, 1921 Issue

Self-Consciousness

BLANCHE M. COLLEY

Among the faults of human character there is none more glaring than that of self-consciousness. It hinders and fetters its victim, constantly and without abatement. True talent, aspiration, and ambition it hides behind the stammering tongue of confusion, until its victim, discouraged and disheartened, is persuaded of the impossibility of attaining success or appreciation and understanding. Turning to Christian Science for help and comfort, the seeker is amazed at the statement that self-consciousness, instead of being a fault, hindrance, and handicap, is in reality a requisite to progress and success, a searchlight which seeks out and reveals hidden treasures of opportunity and unthought of possibilities for its possessor. How can this be? Christian Science makes clear the simple truth that, since God, the creator, made man in His image and likeness, true self-consciousness, or true consciousness of self, is a result of a clear knowledge or understanding of God, good.

On page 276 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" Mrs. Eddy says: "Man and his Maker are correlated in divine Science, and real consciousness is cognizant only of the things of God." All the qualities which constitute Deity are manifested and reflected by man, the image and perfect reflection of God. Is man poor? No. The affluence of good is his. God is his source of supply and substance is as infinite, limitless, as God is. Is man hopeless, helpless, depressed, or oppressed? No. Man has God-given strength, power, and dominion over all the earth, and as Mrs. Eddy says on page 518 of Science and Health: "His birthright is dominion, not subjection. He is lord of the belief in earth and heaven,—himself subordinate alone to his Maker." Is man confused, unable to know, to do, to be? Again, no. The expression of divine Mind is clear-cut, certain, and convincing. Man knows, man is, man does, because God is.

Since God changes not, but is "the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever," man, reflection, remains changeless and always at the point of perfection. "The Christlike understanding of scientific being and divine healing includes a perfect Principle and idea,—perfect God and perfect man,—as the basis of thought and demonstration" (Science and Health, p. 259). Starting always with cause, God, infinite good, and learning even in a small degree what this statement reveals and unfolds, the thinker learns the truth about himself. In other words, one knows himself or is truly self-conscious just to the degree that he knows God, his Maker. It is the true self-consciousness thus gained which enables one to be calm, confident, assured, and steadfastly certain of victory and success along every line of right endeavor and activity, regardless of discouraging circumstance or clamoring discord. He sees, beyond and above and through it all, the unchanging reality of God's universe and God's man. This knowledge and understanding grows stronger from each encounter with the false claims of material or mortal mind. With face turned unfalteringly toward the light and sunshine of divine Love and Truth, the seeker wastes no time in studying the shadow of lies, but holds fast to the truth of being.

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