It is incredible how a person lives, eats, breathes, and has almost no contact with himself 24 hours a day and seven days a week. It’s like carrying a backpack behind your back and not knowing what’s in it all your life. And with inner connection, finding meaning in what we do and moving forward is more accessible.
Sometimes, not knowing ourselves affects our identity and sense of self-worth. When something serious happens, like we get divorced or losing our job, we have nowhere to run. Our life force leaves us, and keeping in touch with loved ones becomes increasingly tricky.
Working on a healthy relationship with ourselves always makes a difference. When we know and feel ourselves, we become more resilient and learn to take the ups and downs with resilience. In this article, a paper writer shares how she started the journey to self with a few simple steps.
1. Noticing ourselves
Often, we try to cope with stress by separating our physical self from our emotional self. And gradually, we dull our senses so much that we begin to lose ourselves.
It’s easy to change this mindset. Take a moment and ask yourself a few questions:
- How am I doing?
- How am I feeling physically?
- What emotions am I experiencing?
If you are stuck on a physical or emotional level, try to figure out what is bothering you. Perhaps you’re worried about problems at work. Or maybe your back hurts because you haven’t been to the gym in a while, and it’s time to stretch.
This checkup will take less than 5 minutes. Try to check in with yourself every day. Make it a ritual. For example, ask yourself these questions every day before breakfast or before you go to bed.
2. Self-care
Think about what type of people you are particularly attracted to. We are usually attracted to psychologically healthy, happy, and exciting people. They make our lives better.
Now, think about how you feel about yourself. Often, when a person is very stressed or tired, they stop taking care of themselves, start spending time on things that spoil their mood, and distance themselves from themselves.
You can start taking care of yourself with simple steps: make the right menu, take regular walks, and exercise. Every time you find it hard to look after yourself, remember that you’re doing it for your future. If you drop everything right now, the future version of you is unlikely to appreciate it.
3. Follow a conscious ritual
Come up with a method that helps you feel your body. It can take less than 5 minutes; the key is to not think about anything during this time and judge yourself.
The easiest way to do this is to set a timer for 5 minutes and breathe deeply. Clear your mind. Every time chaotic thoughts arise, shift your attention to your breathing and how your chest rises and falls.
Another good way is to listen to your heartbeat. Put your hand on your chest and feel the rhythm. If thoughts come into your head, cut them off and focus on your heartbeat again.
4. Being Grateful
Keep a journal daily or list a few moments you are grateful for. It doesn’t have to be things related to other people or lucky coincidences. Only mention things that have to do with you – your personal development, beliefs, or the effort you put into doing something.
For example, thank your arms for helping you carry heavy shopping bags. Or thank your willpower that allowed you to stay focused and finish a complex project on time. This approach will make you look at yourself and your life differently.