What would your life look like if you could get rid of everything that didn’t actually reflect your deepest thoughts and desires?
Changing your life to reflect your true being is the very first step you need to make to find the real you.
Think of the people and work that you value the most. Are you changing yourself to fit into a mold that someone else has created? Or, are you living by the principles and integrity you have formed for yourself?
I know this is a hard question, and when I first thought about it, I had a hard time distinguishing my values from those around me. I grew up conforming to what my parents expected of me and the values they held dear. As I got older I found myself trying to fit into the mold I thought people wanted me to be.
As life got busy, I let too many outside influences dictate who I was. Commercials told me I wasn’t perfect unless I was a siize 4, the Internet said I wasn’t a good parent if I spanked my children and my community suggested I wasn’t helping out enough if I didn’t volunteer on endless committees.
Over the years I let those savvy marketers and people around me cloud who I really was.
Does this sound like you?
Finding the real you isn’t that hard as long as you make room to search for YOU.
Here are a few ways you can create the space you need to find YOU:
- Find time to be alone. – In moments of solitude your mind will be open to see solutions to things that may be weighing on your mind.
- Disconnect. – For an hour everyday give yourself a break from your radio, TV, telephone, and Social Media. Your brain needs time to rest when you are awake and will recharge you if you are not filling it will constant noise.
- Spend quality time with yourself. – Take a walk, get a manicure, and go to lunch or to the library. Whatever it is do it alone.
- Record your own thoughts and feelings. – Buy a journal and write down your feelings and allow your words to flow freely without censorship. This exercise is like empting the trash from your mind. Once it’s on paper you can sort through what is most important and then burn the rest.
Once you have found the space you need, dig deep and get into you again. Only then will be able to clearly see your vision and what you value the most.
For me once I started to spend more time alone I could hear my voice over all the noise around me. It gave me a clearer insight to what I wanted out of life. I was able to live by my dreams and not those of the people around me.
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Bravo Tracy! This is all so true – and challenging at the same time.
Love this blog! Just recently started reading, but very much enjoying it. This particular post hit home. Thanks for taking the time to blog! I know it can be very time consuming. =D
Tracy i love reading your articles and I so much want to find a simpler life. All my life I wanted to live a simpler life and now that I am retired I am striving for a more Amish lifestyle. I do not have cows and chickens. But I do have area farms that I buy my milk and eggs from. I am currently clearing out unwanted things. I have had the desire to can this summer and I am having so much fun preserving the harvest. I am working on the no cable. I have gotten to where I do not enjoy television watching any more. I would rather read a book. Cutting out the noise.
Thank you so much for your posts and I want you to know they mean so much to me.
Donna it sounds like you are taking charge of your life and finding out what is really important…Simple Living!!
Good Morning, I enjoy so much to read your posts. I am finally at this time in my life~ to take care of me.
I had 5 children, went through nursing school and worked as a neonatal nurse for 25 years~ long 12-16 hour shifts. In the middle of all my busyness,
I somehow lost “me” . I had been a responsible woman working, going to church and trying to raise children as a single Mom of divorce. I was caring for so many~ I enjoyed nursing, but the children suffered and my home suffered. I had to hire a housekeeper just to help with the home. Later, in my career when the children were older teens I found a little time for myself. I found that I enjoyed hiking as a hobby which gave me such peace, and God was with me. This was the start of taking just a little time for “me”.
Now , 12 years later at 61 y/o, my children have flown away to start and live their own lives. I have happily remarried 8 years ago, and I am newly retired from nursing. Guess what? I am taking care of me now~ have slowed down the pace of my life, have focused on what really matters in my world… my children , husband , home , bible studies, prayer time, rest. I have found the “real me” again~~ I thought ” oh , there you are!! ”
The list you created is exactly what I have been doing now for a few months…funny to realize that the most precious thing in life is loving our Lord and living more simply~ God’s plan for us . How did my world become so unbalanced by just trying to provide for us ? Thankful for Gods timing now and I am Praising God for a simpler life now~ I love it!! Wished I could have had this many many years ago.
Thank you sooooo much~
Patty from the NW
Patty it sounds like you have finally found you! I have had a couple points in my life just like that.