The normal reaction to this question is saying that I am Joe Bloggs that lives at street address and drives this car and works at company. All the things around you and what you do including your name has become who we are. So if you don't have any of these things you become a nobody. This is the conditioning of our minds and external influences that has brought us to this point. There is so much energy and effort to strive to have and become these things. There is so much believe that when we get there we will be very happy. In the end you realize that this does not bring you the true happiness that we are striving for. Now do we continue this struggle and make this who we are?

What is permanent in your life? Nothing absolutely nothing! Everything and everyone is temporary. Yes you could have something for your whole life time but when you die, do you have it any longer? So if everything is temporary, then why do we label ourselves with these things? Why do we need to create so much pain within ourselves when we loose something. I don't say not have things. Have them and make the best of them for those moments that you have them and know that at some stage it will change. This realization makes it easier to relax and be happy no matter what happens.

When you are looking at something there is you that is doing the seeing and there is the object that is being seen. You are not the object because you are seeing it. Hence anything that you can see is not you. The same thing, anything that you can touch is not you either. The same thing when it comes to your body, the fact that you can see you body and know that it is there means that you are not your body. You need your body in this life but it is not you. The fact that you know that you have a mind and it is what makes you think, makes it clear that you are not your mind at all. If you were your mind then you would not have the ability to know that you have a mind. Your mind is just like any other part of your body that you have full control off. Now who are you then? Well if you are able to put any label to it then you are definitely not that. The realization of this fact is the most important part of knowing who you truly are. No labels and no names and nothing to associate yourself with. You are just "       " but have the full ability to control your body and your mind, knowing definitely that you are not your mind

You have realized this now but trust me, when you have finished reading this, not long and you will be caught up in thoughts and believing that you are your mind, which is all due to your years of conditioning.

Constantly knowing or reminding yourself who you truly are creates peace and calmness within yourself and intern helps maintaining constant happiness. One of the ways to do this is to be conscious and aware of what you are thinking at all time or when you can, so you can step back and stop your thoughts immediately to remind yourself who you are. Practise will increase frequency and duration. Now if you having difficulty to stop your mind then try this simple meditation exercise and then you can build from there.

Use this together with knowing where you are to keep yourself in the Now moment of happiness.