Article December 24, 1966 Issue

Finding True Individuality

ANN T. BEALS

Today much concern is shown by many over the loss of meaning and purpose in their lives. Everyone needs a sense of his true worth and the means of finding this, of escaping the monotony of this mechanistic age with its pressure to conform to its standards.

Conforming is costly because it prevents one from finding his true individuality. Yet, striving for individuality without spiritual inspiration is not satisfactory. Being different just for the sake of being different, drawing attention to oneself, desiring to be thought better than others, setting oneself apart from his fellowmen—all of these personal efforts are shallow and bring no lasting satisfaction. The cultivation of talents and abilities lacks its full reward if it is motivated by materialism.

The answer to this problem is found in Christian Science. After asking, "How shall we reach our true selves?"^{Miscellaneous Writings, p. 104;} Mrs. Eddy replies in two simple words, "Through Love." In order to find our true selfhood, the search must go beyond personal sense and self. Then the effort to find meaning and purpose to being begins to succeed. Materialism yields to spirituality. The darkness of feeling alone is replaced by a feeling of closeness to God, whose plan and purpose for us contain only good. Has not God "chosen us... before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love"?^{Eph. 1:4;}