There has always been a quiet, persistent question that lives in me—a question that has shaped how I see the world and how I walk through life: Who am I? It might sound simple on the surface, but anyone who has ever truly sat with this question knows how deep and endless it really is.

Even now, I often think about diving deeper into philosophy—maybe through online courses or self-study—because for me, it’s never been about earning degrees or intellectual prestige. It’s about seeking. Searching. Feeling my way toward something that cannot be easily defined. Philosophy, to many, might seem boring, overly complicated, or disconnected from real life. But to me, it’s sacred. It’s not just a field of study—it’s a way of seeing, of thinking, of being. It teaches us how to live with clarity, how to think with depth, and how to perceive the invisible threads that tie everything together.

The Haunting Beauty of the Question “Who Am I?”

The first time I read a line from a philosophy book that asked “Who am I?”, something stirred deep inside me. I was still young—just beginning to explore the inner world beyond textbooks and childhood expectations—but I was already obsessed with that question. Not in a superficial, name-tag kind of way. I didn’t mean, “What’s my name?” or “Where am I from?” I meant it in the most existential sense: What makes me… me? What makes me unique, one of a kind, in a universe so vast it seems endless?

I instinctively knew it wasn’t about the name I was given, or the roles I played. It was something deeper—something beneath the surface, beneath the skin, beneath even the mind.

So, I kept reading. I devoured philosophical texts like others might read fantasy novels, searching for clues in the voices of those who came before me. I found that even the greatest thinkers in history—Plato, Descartes, Kierkegaard, Simone Weil—had different ways of answering this same question. No one answer was final. Each answer reflected how that soul saw the world, how they experienced life, how they interpreted the dance between thought, spirit, and existence.

I still don’t have my answer. And maybe I never will. But the beauty is in the quest.

The Soul’s Mission: More Than Just a Life

As I grow and deepen in my inner journey, I’ve started to sense that this question isn’t meant to be solved like a puzzle—but lived like a journey. In modern times, we’ve rediscovered through ancient wisdom, spiritual teachings, and numerology—especially the legacy of Pythagoras—that every soul may carry a karmic lesson, a life quest that they are meant to fulfill or master in this lifetime. This resonates with me deeply.

In this phase of introspection, I find myself returning to that question again and again: Who am I? Why am I here? And though I still can’t articulate the full answer, I do know one thing: I want to leave a gentle imprint on the universe. I want my life to mean something—not by being famous, not by chasing worldly success, but by living with love. So that when I finally return to the unseen realm behind the veil, I can whisper to the cosmos, “I didn’t waste this life. I gave it meaning.”

Letting Go of the Ordinary to Embrace the Soul’s Calling

I can no longer imagine living a life where I work only to survive—doing something that feeds my bank account but starves my soul. I don’t want to be a spectator of my own existence. I want to be a participant in something meaningful, something sacred. I am on a quiet, passionate quest to discover what true worthiness means—not through titles or paychecks, but through kindness, presence, and compassion.

That is where I’m beginning—by planting small, intentional seeds of love. I’ve come to believe that our life’s purpose isn’t always some grand mission written in the stars. Sometimes, it starts in the smallest of acts: offering someone a kind word, giving without expecting in return, smiling at a stranger who might be silently struggling. These are the seeds. The universe sees them. And in time, it will turn them into sweet fruit—not only for us, but for others as well.

The Laws of the Universe: Giving as a Sacred Act

Many people talk about the law of attraction—how to manifest abundance, success, love. But few understand its deeper roots. True manifestation begins not with wishing, but with giving. The universe always works in balance. You must give first—freely, lovingly, without agenda. Not just to friends or family, but especially to those who truly need it, those who cannot give anything back.

It doesn’t have to be much. It can be your time, your compassion, your listening ear, or a small amount of help. But it must be real. Aligned. Given from a heart that is sincere. When you give this way, you activate a sacred exchange with the universe. Because the universe always returns what you give—not always through the same channel, but often in ways more abundant, more aligned, more magical than you ever imagined.

This is the wisdom woven through not just spiritual laws like karma, attraction, or balance—but through the very fabric of human goodness. It’s not just a belief. It’s a way of living.

The Thought That Makes Us Different

In the end, what makes us different—what makes us beautifully human—is not our appearance or possessions, but our thoughts and our compassion. The people who leave the greatest imprints on the universe are not always the loudest or the most visible. Often, they are the quiet ones—the seekers, the givers, the ones who choose love over fear, who plant good seeds not for glory but for grace.

I may never fully answer the question “Who am I?”—but I believe I can live it. By walking in love, by offering kindness, and by continuing this lifelong quest for meaning, I know I’m already becoming that answer—day by day, step by step.

And I know I’m not alone. Many of us are beginning to remember who we truly are: not just minds or bodies, but souls here to love, give, and awaken.

With love,

Seraphine Duong

Lately, I’ve been sitting with the question that’s followed me through every stage of life: “Who am I?” It’s not a question I expect to answer in full, but one that keeps guiding me inward—toward truth, purpose, and self-understanding. I used to believe I needed to be strong by staying silent, independent by never needing support. But now I see that my softness is part of my strength, that my longing to give and understand is part of my soul’s design. I may not have all the answers, but I know I’m here to love deeply, live gently, and leave behind something kind and meaningful—no matter how small.