You’re supposed to have it all: a stable career, a great family, and living the comfortable American lifestyle.
Yet, something feels off.
It’s really hard to explain, but you have this nagging thought in the back of your head. You just don’t feel comfortable or “right” in your own skin. In fact, you may wonder if there is anything more.
It could be that your subconscious is saying there’s more to your life than what you even realized. That is, you may still have work to do in order to reach your authentic self.
But how?
Consider these three ways in which you can tap into your authentic self to reach your full potential.
1. Use Mediation to Gain Perspective
You have a lot of thoughts going back-and-forth in your mind. One part of you tells you to take a certain path in life, while another part pushes back. This tug-of-war has most likely been going on for years, under the surface.
So, how can you resolve these thoughts and feelings? Mediation can help in these instances. It allows you to slow down and to actually focus on your thoughts.
Here’s how:
- Sit in a comfortable position in a room or area where you won’t be disturbed or distracted.
- Breathe in and out deeply and slowly. Focus on your breathing while allowing yourself to clear your mind.
- Let your thoughts flow. As each one comes up, recognize the thought. Then let it drift away.
- If a thought persists, don’t push it away. Instead, embrace it and allow yourself to fully experience it.
- When you are done, return your focus to your breathing.
Meditating can be frustrating at first if you don’t have any practice at it. However, once you get used to it, you’ll likely see that the technique can be very helpful for slowing down, reflecting on your thought process in depth, and gaining perspective.
2. Tap Into Your Creativity
Another way to explore your authentic self is by tapping into your creativity. That may include such things as:
- Painting
- Drawing
- Writing or journaling
- Music
- Collage
- Carving/woodworking
Sometimes, we need to do something with our hands to help us reflect. In that respect, the creative process alone will be incredibly beneficial.
However, there is something to be said for studying the finished product as well. When you make a sketch, paint a picture, compose a written work, or build something, what messages does it convey to you?
Of course, scholars spend their entire careers interpreting the work by the artists of history. Yet, you know yourself best. What does your art tell you about who you are or what is your authentic self?
3. Interpreting Your Dreams
Dreams are fascinating. They are part of how your brain processes information and stores that data. Dreams can be packed with symbolism and meaning. And studying them can provide powerful insights to your inner workings.
Yet, dreams can also be incredibly confusing. Plus, you may forget parts of a dream after you wake up.
Thus, recording the details of the dream first thing in the morning can be helpful for retaining information. That way you can study it later and try to draw conclusions. It may be that your brain is trying to tell you something regarding your authentic self that you have never realized.
Getting Help with Putting the Pieces Together
Yes! Tapping into your authentic self using mediation, creativity, and dream analysis can be an amazing journey.
However, you might miss something or even not recognize the meaning. That’s why working with a therapist can be so helpful. A therapist who understands how to utilize these techniques for discovering authenticity will know how to read in between the lines, so-to-speak. They will be able to make observations and provide perspectives that you didn’t even realize.
For many, the path of self-discovery is a lifelong journey. But you don’t have to wait that long for uncovering your authentic self. Try out the methods described above to unlock those doors. And if you need help, don’t hesitate to ask a therapist who can assist you in this path of self-discovery.