Aligning to my true authentic needs and taking care of myself has been an ongoing priority, which has allowed me to better show up for others. In order to take care of myself, I had to get to know myself, through deeper introspection and taking inventory. Making a commitment and choosing to honor my own needs consistently has brought me to a life that feels more meaningful today.
Getting to know myself has been the catalyst and I am still getting to know myself as each day goes by. Prior to being intentional about this, I operated on auto-pilot, moving through either my over-scheduled or under-prioritized days just reacting to the daily matters. It wasn’t until I took the time to slow down and get silent, that I could reflect on what are my authentic needs, and where they were missing from my life.
My reflection process took many forms, and included meditation, journal, long walks and yoga practices. All of these allowed me to remove myself from the reality of my daily grind, and get selective about the life that I wanted to bring forward.
Over this time, I would consider what is going well, and what changes I would want to make to support my new vision. This included areas such as physical wellness, diet and nutrition, relationships, career, money, hobbies and activities. This inventory was also directed by my visual of how I wanted to eventually feel. Visualization was very important in getting to know my authentic life, as sometimes I need to see to believe that things are possible, and therefore bring it to present. Big things are possible.
Bringing my vision to the present required my intentional incorporation for everything that I identified as a desire. This is where I had patience with my process and realized that this wasn’t an immediate light switch moment. As life progresses, and I see a way to do things differently according to what I have decided, I embrace the moment. This part has been ongoing for me, as I am always being presented with the choice to choose the bigger life.
I have also learned to gracefully let go of things, people, and ideas that don’t support my authentic needs. Sometimes I am unable to fully let go, but minimization and moderation are acceptable to me. When I practice letting go, it makes it easier for me if I remind myself of what I am making room for, by choosing to do so. When I let go, I create space; I may feel a little lighter. I intentionally make meaning of this in regard to what this new space can enable, referencing my original inventory and vision.
Since I’ve started making changes to support my authentic life vision, I am now focusing on commitment. Commitment is essential to ensure that I don’t fall back into the same patterns of life where I would find myself just going with the motions, letting things happen. Commitment is also not instant, but when faced with the options, I try to intentionally make choices, where it makes sense, that support my life goals. Commitment takes practice, and the more I say yes to myself, is the more I develop pride in what I am creating, and I am then more likely to keep saying yes.
This work never stops since I am growing and evolving. How do I want my life to look and feel, and why, are questions that I am always getting curious about. Practicing reflection is ongoing and I still take the time to slow down and reflect. Where I have control, I am happy to meet myself and do the work.
( This article was submitted and written by our community of Good Body Babes, and was not written by Lauren)