Finding Your True Self in Faith: First Letter to Serena
Updated: Oct 11
Inspired by Shakespeare - Finding Your True Self
I was sitting on the sofa sipping my morning coffee and browsing through the set of Shakespeare's books for kids that I used to read with my granddaughter. Nostalgia filled my heart like a fresh breeze on a spring morning when my precious princess, now a wise teenager, came back from school. She looked tired and anxious. One glance at her was enough for me to know something was on her mind.
Later in the evening, as we sat together, she finally shared her thoughts. I just listened. I was there for her, present in the moment, offering the silence she needed. But now, as I sit with my pen in hand, I feel the urge to write her a note - not to give advice, but to share a perspective.
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My dear Serena,
You asked me why life sometimes feels like a script written by someone else. Why does it seem like we are playing roles instead of truly being ourselves? You also mentioned Hamlet’s famous words:
"To be, or not to be?"
Let me tell you what I see. There is a great difference between simply living and truly being.
To live is to exist, go through the motions, follow routines, and meet expectations. Many people live, but not all of them are. Not all of them truly embrace who they are meant to be.
To be means to wake up to the truth of who you are.
To be means to wake up to the truth of who you are. It means to stop hiding behind masks, to stop chasing approval, and instead to listen to the quiet voice inside you - the voice that knows your worth, your gifts, and your purpose.
This is not easy. In the Bible, Jesus said (John 10:10)
“I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
He didn’t mean just breathing and surviving. A life filled with truth, love, and meaning creates purpose and direction. We can have life to the full, not just exist, but truly savour who we are. We don’t have to chase everything at once; choose what is truly important, enjoy the simple moments, and live authentically, without unnecessary baggage.
Awakening Begins with Finding Your True Self
The great psychologist Carl Jung once wrote:
“Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakens.”
Many people look outside at what others expect, at who they "should" be. But awakening happens when you dare to look within, to face both the light and the shadow inside you, and to accept it all.
A wise woman, Alicja Lenczewska, wrote in her spiritual conversations:
“The more you are in Me, the more you are yourself.”
She meant that when we let go of fear and trust God, we find our truest selves. We don’t have to prove anything to the world. We don’t have to be perfect. We just have to be real, honest, and open to love.
So, my dear Serena, when you ask, "To be, or not to be?", you are asking something much deeper than Hamlet ever did.
You are asking whether you should exist in the shadows of expectations or step into the light of your true self.
This journey of finding your true self awakens you to who you already are in God.
What more can I say?
Be - fully, bravely, beautifully. Not because the world demands it, but because you were made for it.
With all my love,
Blessings & Hugs,
Grandma BE 💕
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🌸 P.S. Though Letters to Serena: Faith and True Intimacy are written in the form of a letter to a granddaughter, they are meant for every young woman seeking love that is true, tender, and rooted in faith. The style is a creative choice to offer warmth, wisdom, and a personal tone, but the message belongs to you, wherever you are on your journey.
🌸 The name Serena was chosen with care. It comes from the Latin serenus, meaning calm, clear, and peaceful - qualities that blossom in a soul rooted in love and faith.
Serena is also linked to the cosmos flower, a delicate bloom symbolizing harmony, balance, and beauty in the midst of chaos. In naming this series after her, I wanted to speak not only to one girl, but to every soul seeking peace in who they are, and courage in who they’re becoming.
🌸If this letter spoke to your heart, you might also enjoy the next part of Serena’s journey:
🌸And in the final letter,
I share thoughts on becoming the woman your heart longs to be.
🌸And here you can read a beautiful Letter from my beloved Serena:
🌸🌿 Whether you are a Cassia or a Serena, your journey matters.
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