Fortunately, we all have the potential to hear Saoirse's songs. Saoirse represents our innate desire to discover who we are and to become fully human, rather than remaining a measurable object devoid of individual uniqueness. I have witnessed many people live as if there were some external, universal, right ways to go about life. Let us turn temporarily to a few people I know in real life (the names have been changed, and some stories have been combined for confidentiality). Amber, 72, wakes up every morning with her first thought, "What should I do today?" as if life were only about doing things. Fei, 42, dislikes their job in finance but does not know what they want to do or how to pivot in their career. They sometimes ask me impatiently, "What should I do?" expecting me to alleviate their confusion and dissatisfaction with their life by showing them where a different life can be found. David, 22, has just graduated from college and is confused about his future and love life. He turns to me when he has trouble at work or goes through interpersonal challenges. He asks, "So, what should I do?" looking at me as though I were an authority with the correct answers to his problems. Yet, Amber, Fei, and David have decided to tolerate not getting quick answers or advice from me but learn to find answers within themselves and discover their own truth. They learn to hear their own songs, which ultimately feels satisfying.

Some of you may wonder how you can find your answers. Let us turn back to our story and our heroine, Saoirse. Have you considered why Saoirise needs to find her seal coat to sing in her own voice? Metaphorically and psychologically, we must see and feel our "psychic skin" as we learn to express ourselves and discover "who I am." "Psychic skin" is our capacity to tell what is within and outside us. For example, when your parents tell you to be practical and work at a corporate job, do you ask yourself how YOU feel about this? When health experts recommend walking 10,000 steps daily, do you know whether this is appropriate for YOU? When most of your friends have become married with two kids by 35, do you check in with yourself to figure out if this is what YOU desire? When your manager insists you have done something wrong and criticizes you, do you pause and consider whether what the manager says reflects YOUR intention and who YOU are?

A more straightforward way to access our "psychic skin" is through sensory experiences. Recently, I asked someone when she last did something for herself and felt good about it. She thought for a few seconds and said she did not know, but with encouragement, she decided to start small by asking which tea she wanted on a particular day and what she enjoyed about it. For example, is it the flavor? Is it the warmth or the coldness of the tea? Does the tea evoke pleasant memories? Or does she feel settled when she holds the teacup in her hand? This may be a helpful start for you as well.

To sum up, discovering "who I am" is about sensitively holding ourselves in mind and attending to our inner experiences, including feelings, sensations, thoughts, and imaginings. The more we ask "How am I?" rather than "What should I do?", the closer we come to our seal coat and to our ability to hear and sing our song. The more we orient toward what "I feel," "I want," "I desire," "I value," "I aspire," and "I dislike," the less confused we are about "who I am." As tempting as Macha's controlling strategy of cutting off our feelings is, Saoirse must sing her songs and determine her destination. Macha's method may feel easy, but it costs our aliveness, creativity, and spontaneity. Saoirse must endure a long, arduous journey to find and connect with her seal coat. Still, the outcome is the invaluable freedom to express ourselves from the depth of "I am."

Reference:

Moore, T. (Director). (2014). Song of the Sea [Film]. Cartoon Saloon; Melusine Productions.