Of Self Discovery. Where do I even begin?
On the start of becoming one with self…
When you read those words or speak them aloud, what comes to mind. Maybe it’s a hippy dippy conundrum that makes you want to woosahh and drink all the healthy teas in the back of your cabinet that you bought from a wellness retreat. It can mean anything to you because we all derive from different life experiences.
What it means to me and what I want to bring attention to is that self discovery is simply the discovery of self. Now, this isn’t a one stop shop where we travel to Tibet, drink from a healing waterfall and practice yoga with crystal surrounding us, then encounter a eureka moment of all that is within you. This is a constant pursuit of knowing and getting to know you, which means a constant effort and intentional energy in paying attention to your thoughts, behaviors, and actions, daily. It doesn’t end, and why would it?
You are constantly evolving. Reflect on the person you were one year ago. What did you like to do? What intrigued your interest? What or who gave your butterflies? What did you do with your time? What consumes your thoughts? Now fast forward to this present moment. Do you see even an ounce of change? If the answer is yes, do me a favor and on a small scale vocalize one change that you can pinpoint. If you were able to do that even in seconds, imagine the actual amount of changes you’ve undergone from then until now. Now put into perspective the you of your teens. That’s one hot cheeto-loving, dating every human in high school, suffering traumatic breakups and breakouts, hell of a difference from the you of today.
And so, to understand your thoughts, and the evolution of you it is insanely important to live a life that is yours based on the constant study of self and what you do with that data.
Self study comes in various forms. You aren’t required to read every book on the market regarding this topic, or take wellness courses, or even write your own book. But it does require you to take note of who you are each day. All it requires is your attention. Your presence is something that doesn’t cost you money. It is something the richest person has down to the poorest person. The most successful person that you admire right now has the same access to this pleasure center as you do in your current state. You don’t need to be anything or become anything to possess awareness of self. You just need to tap in.
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Through reading and more importantly through action steps, we will rid ourselves of the idea that we have to find ourselves. You are presently and innately you, but you may be buried. We will learn how to dig her up, wash her off and let her shine; but it doesn’t stop here. This is a daily process. In order to be the most true version of yourself consistently, it will take conscious effort, but I promise you, it gets easier with time. It is no different than learning how to tie your shoe as a child. Think back, you struggled, quit, and asked for help a few times. Practice makes perfect, and before you know it you’ll do it without having to tell yourself to do it. It becomes natural and this practice, through repetition and self awareness is exactly how you can and will live authentically each day moving forward. It is possible, we just have to begin.
If you find yourself feeling lost or depressingly disconnected with self, you are in the right place. Most times, when we feel off, the first thing we do is go back to a state of comfort. I’ve learned in the last few years that comfort keeps you there. If you want to stay “there”, that is your choice, as everyone has a free will. However, if you have that inkling inside, that feeling that you know there is more for you out there, or even a small disturbance that “this” just ain’t it, then comfortability is not where you want to stay.
Where do I go then? The answer to your questions is less about movement and more about being still. Being still? I know, I know, sometimes being still doesn’t mean you are in the same place, you are progressing and learning and better yet evolving more than you even understand. After encountering several tough periods of life, I’ve come to understand that movement, of any kind, can be detrimental to your growth. When we are so abrupt to move physically, alter our plans for life, or change course immediately, we aren’t dealing with the problem. We are rejecting the solution with a tangible change, when the change must come from within. It must come from stillness, and this is why self study is an integral piece of daily living.
It’s scary, I know. We don’t like to be left with our thoughts. We avoid the quiet so much that we would rather be surrounded by people who do nothing but take energy over learning to love what comes from stillness. Ask yourself this question, “If I feel empty, unfulfilled, and unsatisfied in life right now, and I don’t want to stay here, but I also don’t know what to do or where to go, how can I reach a more intentional, purpose-driven life?”
The short answer: you won’t.
Ouch, that hurts to read, I’m sure. The answer is in the question. What to do and where to go. In the upcoming stories, we will dissect the “what to do and where to go” so that you are better able to navigate life, and not by making external choices or immediate changes to your life, but rather focusing on the internal. There’s lots of work to do here, but the great news is you don’t need to ALTER anything right now. You just have to open your soul to yourself, shine a flashlight on your heart, and take a closer look at who she is beneath the surface.
