Exercises & Practices for Self-Discovery

Hi everyone, today I’m sharing more about my journey to self-discovery and some of the practices I used to cultivate self-awareness.

I want to start by saying that awareness is the starting point, you won’t get very far in your journey if you are not self-aware. Likewise, you can’t truly love yourself if you don’t truly know yourself.

We spend so much time trying to fit in, to belong, curating an identity that we believe is valuable/loveable/accepted/worthy. We are so afraid of the discomfort of not being understood, seen, heard, liked for our unique selves that we spend our life avoiding this discomfort only to end up living someone else’s life- at no fault of our own, our brains work hard to keep us safe and alive and part of the “tribe”. I know this may sound dramatic but spending your life perfecting the various masks we wear based on the role we’re playing in that moment is pretty dramatic if you ask me.

The good news is, we can take back our power and start living life for ourselves again, and if that sounds selfish ask yourself why- why do I believe living my life as I desire is selfish?

When we become aware of the beliefs, values, emotional patterns and reactions that are directing our life we can begin to change them and realign our life with our soul’s mission & desires. The result? A joyful, fulfilling, abundant life filled wth meaning and love for ourselves and for others. When you are in flow and not resisting, when you are tapped in to the infinite abundance of source you have so much more to give. You can serve from a place of love rather than a place of inadequacy, resentment or need for external validation. The following are the practices & exercises I used to deepen my self-awareness & live more intentionally (in no particular order):

1) Journaling: Here are some questions to get you started, note that the answers may evolve over time and may not come to you easily. Make this a regular practice, meditate on the questions, talk to someone you trust, consider what you DON'T want.

• Get clear on your values: what matters most to you? What are your priorities?

• Identify limiting beliefs

• How do you want to show up in life?

• Who do you want to be?

• How do you want to feel?

• If anything was possible, what would your life look like? Your job? Your family life? Your friendships?

• What do you want out of life?

2) Try new things and be open to new interests, hobbies and friendships

3) Follow your joy: check in with yourself regularly, when you notice you are feeling joy/love/peace take note and go with it. Aim to do something everyday that brings you joy. When something makes you retract or feel negative ask yourself why? What about this situation or person is making me feel this way? Is this an opportunity for stronger boundaries?

4) Reflect on your actions & reactions from a place of neutrality: why did I react in this way? What intention was behind this action? What am I feeling right now? etc. This is not about judging your actions as good or bad, this is about observing and reflecting to get to know yourself better. It takes practice to remain neutral so be gentle on yourself.

5) Meditation: necessary to get quiet and make the space to tune in. If this is new to you start with guided meditations, you can find free recordings on YouTube, Spotify, podcasts etc.

6) Daily gratitude practice to cultivate love and a more positive, optimistic mindset. This will be particularly helpful if it is difficult to find things that bring you joy or you tend to focus on the negative aspects of your life.

7) Be compassionate with yourself, this may seem fluffy but it can be HARD to face your sh*t. If it helps, talk to yourself like you would a small child or your best friend. Give yourself grace and be gentle.

When I first started this journey I felt frustrated and hopeless. I was so disconnected and living from a place of ego & fear I struggled to decipher between the “shoulds” and my true desires. If you are having a similar experience be patient, it will become clear. Focus on building a strong gratitude, meditation and mindfulness practice first, this will help you shift your mindset and open your heart. Also know that this is an ongoing process, we are always changing, expanding and growing. If you would like additional guidance and support on this journey I invite you to enrol in my self-paced course Empowered: A Journey to Self-Love.

Thanks for stopping by,

Jess xo