practical inquiry regarding meaning » value » authenticity / valuable for me / my 'ought'
The S-node goal is to "become yourself." This involves finding and contributing to our shared world that which one is uniquely capable of contributing.
Identifying that which one is uniquely capable of contributing will involve several sub-goals. We aren't born capable of contributing something unique. We may be born with dispositions to become skilled at some things rather than others, but we'll still need to develop those skills. So, becoming able to contribute something unique will require devoting much time and energy to some endeavors rather than others. We'll need to sacrifice the promise of developing many potentialities in order to develop a few. Making such choices is never easy. In order to do so, one might consider what she is already good at or interested in. One will also need to consider what support systems are available for any given choice. Are there others to help us develop our unique skills? Are there opportunities to surround ourselves by them? These considerations factor into the more general assessment of relative risk. How likely are we to become successful at a given endeavor? How fruitful is its promise, and with what relative ease will it come? Should we dream big and aim high or stick to a safer route? This will involve a close assessment of one's limitations, one's personal track record of dealing well with challenges, of rising to the occassion when called, and so on.
Some of us will very deliberately choose our path; others will allow the world to present that path. Doors are often opened that we had not expected, and passing through them can very well lead to an authentic life that one had not previously expected. In either case, once a path is before us, we'll need to break it into steps and show resolve in following them consistently. This may invovle study, practice, production, or any combination thereof. At the end of the day, we're uniquely responsible for what we uniquely become, but others can help, and it's wise to seek as much help as we can get.
