Suzanna Wojnowski As I’ve gotten older, I have discovered the value in connecting to myself on a deeper level.
No matter what stage of life you are in, there are times when you feel like you don’t know who you are.
This is a scary and uneasy feeling because we’re supposed to be the most knowledgeable person about ourselves. However, just because we inhabit our body, that doesn’t mean we are aware of our true identity.
In my previous post, I discussed a podcast that really made me think about why finding my true-self is so important. The answer to that question was spirituality.
To me, individual spirituality is finding the true purpose you have as a human and being grateful for what the universe has granted you.
While I have not reached my fullest potential in spirituality, it is something I work towards everyday.
There are many ways to achieve this, and in this post I am going to share some ways in which I find myself becoming more bonded to my authentic soul.
I posted a podcast (shown above) that scratched the surface on some ways I do this, but I also talked more about how spirituality affects us on a global scale. If you’re interested to hear about that discussion, make sure to give it a listen.
In any case, the individual scope of spirituality is something I have more experience on, so here are some suggestions I have to get started on this journey.
1. Meditation
Scientists and psychologists have proved many times that meditation can improve your quality of life in a variety of ways.
Whether it’s on a physical scale or mental scale, meditation has shown to lower stress, increase your emotional well-being, enhance self-awareness, reduce symptoms of anxiety & depression, improve memory, and so much more that I could write a whole separate blog for it.
In summary, there is practically no harm in trying meditation practices as it does nothing but benefit you.
One of my favorite parts of meditation is pranayama. This is the part of meditation that encompasses mindful breathing.
When you focus on your breath, you are forced to pay attention to the present moment, as breathing is one of the only things that is constantly happening while you are alive.
Even if you just practice slow breathing, you will realize that your heart rate slows down and in turn you begin to feel more relaxed.
If meditation is something you have never tried before or are not familiar with, I recommend by starting your research on YouTube. They have a ton of resources on there that will slowly integrate you into the practice.
Another great way to start is by using the app Headspace. I have used it a few times before and it’s very user-friendly which is great for beginners.
2. Journaling
Having a place to write down anything you want, that only you get to see is something very sacred to me.
At the end of the day, you are the only one who gets stuck listening to your own thoughts and feeling all of the emotions you endure. With that, it’s important to acknowledge these sensations, rather than pushing them aside.
While thoughts and feelings pass, we all know that some tend to linger. A great way to expel them is by writing it down.
You may think, can’t I just rant about it to my friends? Well yes, that’s another good form to release, I don’t think enough people really sit and reflect by themselves.
A hard pill to swallow is that you will never truly feel intune with yourself if you can’t process your own thoughts and emotions. But once you do, it feels amazing.
When I began journaling it felt awkward because it made me feel like I was writing in a diary back in my middle school days, but the sense of relief you get afterwards is such a rewarding feeling.
Buying a journal that has prompts is one way to do it or just acquiring a plain notepad is a great way to just brain dump anything that is bugging you.
3. Nature
One person that will never leave you behind is mother nature! She’s always there for comfort and is an awesome place for healing.
Days when I am cooped up indoors, I tend to feel isolated and uninspired. A great way to feel more connected to the environment is to simply go outside.
With all of the issues that are occurring in the world, it can be easy to find beauty again by observing the gifts Earth has provided for us.
Immersing myself in nature allows me to be more appreciative of the world around me. From the air we breathe, to the ground we walk on, it is important to remember that our environment is the sole reason why we can survive as a species.
While there are so many other significant aspects of life, I feel as though the most universal piece we can all ground ourselves back to, is nature.
Before societal norms, government, and careers were ever created, the one thing humans depended on was the resources Earth provided. Finding that sense of gratefulness for the life around us is something that really makes me feel connected to the world on a deeper level.
So next time you feel overwhelmed or need a change of scenery, just step outside your door and let nature do the work for you.
I hope you try some of these out and find success in doing so 🙂
Good luck in your self awareness journey!
