Deepening our relationships with ourselves has a direct impact on the way we interact with the world. The notion of self-awareness sprouts from the need to find meaning and authenticity with what we choose to connect to. It begins with taking ownership for our relationships with ourselves
Here are a few ways to spark a conversation with ourselves and adjust the narrative towards personal responsibility.
Radical acceptance
The idea of radical acceptance was created with the intention to accept whatever that we are and all that surrounds us at this very moment. This creates a starting point. When we continually fight against a situation or find it hard to let go of, we suffer more as a result of feeling like we have no control. With acceptance, we learn to acknowledge the circumstance. We see ourselves as we are, without drawing a personal conclusion to what is flawed and what isn’t. Though pure acceptance, we embody a sense of healthy detachment, a potent tool in regaining our focus and maintaining our calm.
Questions to ask ourselves to spark radical acceptance:
1. How can I look at myself and my experiences without criticism?
2. What parts of myself and my life would I desire to acknowledge?
3. What makes me love the present moment I have right here, right now?
Re-parenting
Parts of our shame, angst and anxiety we face may be an effect of the experiences we’ve had in our childhood. There may have been times we were shamed for something we had no control over or silly mistakes we made simply because we are human. There is a loss of trust and a sense of self when we don’t feel safe and loved for who we are, leading us to fear and doubt in moments we feel vulnerable. Reparenting ourselves guides us to give ourselves all the love, respect, and safety we did not receive when we needed it. It empowers us to take care of ourselves, cultivating resilience and a deeper connection with our being.
Questions to re-parent parts of ourselves:
1. What can I do to listen to my inner voice? What practices do I desire to cultivate to pay attention to my inner child?
2. How do I talk to myself in a way that’s safe and nurturing? What are some words that love and encourage me?
3. The thoughts that make me feel insecure and unloved; whose words are they and how can I replace them with mine?
Entering the realm of self-discovery can help us understand what we value and what we’re told to value. By taking charge with curiosity and gentleness, we make and change these attempts with intention. We carry ourselves towards a direction cultivated by us, knowing that wherever we go, it’s our hearts we follow.
