Essence is what is born in you, personality is what you acquire. Essence is your own, personality is not your own. Personality is too heavy, too strong; it surrounds Essence like a shell, so nothing can reach it directly, everything has to pass through personality. Essence cannot grow in these conditions, but if personality becomes more transparent, impressions and external influences will penetrate through it and reach Essence, and Essence will begin to grow.

PD Ouspensky