Self Awareness provides a powerful first step for stress management and self care. Our minds are a major player in both the creation and management of stress. Taking charge of our minds results in positive change on all levels of our being.
Self Awareness and Thought Streams
With a bit of focus we can be more aware of the continuous stream of what thoughts habitually flow through our minds. Beneath them there is another stream that has more to do with feelings, beliefs and views about ourselves, others and life itself! Because of the nature of the ‘conversation’ at this level, intellectual, planning or strategizing isn’t very effective at rooting out the problem effects.
Giving ourselves time on a regular basis to let the conscious mind quiet down, decompress and let go allows us to “hear” the deeper river of thought and feeling that moves through us. It is then that we can employ appropriate methods to shift what needs to be shifted to give us more internal freedom. Once we understand what is happening there, we can release old worn out beliefs that no longer serve us, erase negative thoughts and feelings and create a fertile ground for approaches that will genuinely guide us toward the life we want to live.
Silence, Conscious Mind Deepens Self Awareness
It is in that quieter space’ that you will come to really know yourself and be able to not only understand your triggers, but also have a clearer knowledge regarding what the solutions are. As brilliant as your everyday mind is, it is your quieter inner self’ that holds the wisdom that will bring you to a rich, satisfying healthy way of being. In this quieter space questions can be asked that guide you toward your own strategic plan for inner world peace! Ultimately working with this level of mind also leads us to the higher consciousness some of us seek.
Helpful Questions for Self Awareness:
Where am I too attached to outcomes?
Where and why do I care too much?
Where are my personal boundaries and responsibilities?
Are my expectations of self and other realistic?
If I change my way of approaching this situation, what is my worst fear?
Is it realistic? What are healthy alternatives?
Change, Uncertainty Fear and Personal Myths
Times of change and uncertainty provide ripe ground for our fears and personal myths to emerge. Instead of allowing them to remain out of awareness where they are free to create chaos or employing ineffective means to manage and control them, we can choose methods that provide us a way out– a way to personal emotional freedom and inner balance. Willingness to try a different approach, patience for the learning curve and a commitment to be gentle and kind to yourself will benefit you personally and professionally.
Self Awareness, Self-Care, Unique Needs and Flexibility
You are an individual with unique needs. Therefore, self- care needs to be designed for where you are at any particular moment in time. When you spend time getting to know yourself, you can try many different things and learn what works best for you. Take nutrition for example, we all need to eat a healthy and balanced diet every day. The personal choices we make to get there can vary greatly. Some people may feel better with high levels of protein while others feel better with more carbohydrates. Some people enjoy eating meat while others prefer a vegetarian diet. It is the same for inner work; choices made from a foundation of true self-knowledge will be more effective and bring you to your goals faster. In essence, it is really learning to live from the inside out. Learn about what is available and then do what truly feels right for you.
Tending Our Garden to Create Peace, Cooperation and Nurture
These are challenging times to be sure but as is always the case, times of crisis also offer great opportunities for growth and advancement. In many ways it seems we rise to the occasion better when our backs are to the wall! Well, here we are. There is a lot we as individuals may not be able to do to affect the world situation, but we can each tend our own garden so our corner of the world is a more peaceful, cooperative and nurturing place.
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