How I Found Myself: 10 Ways

Some of us get lost.  In fact, most of us do at one time or another.  All of the sudden we find ourselves asking questions like, "What am I doing?"  "Where am I going?" or "Who am I?".  Instead of focussing on the circumstances or events that appear to be responsible, I have found that my commitment to items on this list has been quite helpful.  By starting here, you can begin to tap into your deeper self, become stronger rooted and adjust your sail in the direction of your dreams.  These tasks aren't easy.  Taking actions like this require a deep desire for change.  The answers don't come quickly either.  But they do come.  This is what I've found works for me.

1. Get up earlier.  Get up before the rest of your household rises.  Set aside 30-45 minutes where you can sit in solitude and quiet before the rest of the world begins to bustle.  Notice any thoughts or feelings that rise.  Take note of them.  

2. Read.  I recommend reading some sort of daily meditation book, an autobiography, a children's book and a piece of adult fiction.

3. Write.  If you feel at a loss here, I highly recommend committing to morning pages for twelve weeks everyday.  This is a much different form of writing, a way of clearing the emotional clutter and I highly recommend it.  In fact, this activity alone can create the shift you are seeking.  It is powerful. 

4. Identify your dislikes.  Sometimes we need to identify what we don't like in order to find out more about what we do.  Notice what you don't like.  Why?  Take more notes.  

5. Start your 100 list.  Keep a running list of 100 things you like/love.  It may be easy to think of 100 or it may be difficult.  Do the best you can.  Practice doing/honoring one of these things everyday - even it if is just for 10 minutes.

6. Write out your ideal day.  If you had no responsibilities or obligations at all, how would you spend your time?  Fantasize about what an ideal day would look like for you.  Start participating in one activity from your ideal day once a week.  Set aside one day a month where you can put your ideal day into practice (modifying it as needed).

7. Try things on (and then take things off).  Enroll in an activity or attend an event once a week.  Notice what you like and don't like.  Repeat.

8. Discover three new heroes (or heroines).  Research all you can about these people.  Start a list of their characteristics and why you admire them.  Bridge connections between the three.

9. Give yourself one day a week to practice the next right thing.  Spend this time following your inner nudges.  Notice the difference between required action and inspired action.  

10. Stop "doing".  If you are anything like me, you have a to-do list and your to-do list never ends.  This kind of "doing" can turn into an addiction.  When we stop the compulsion to check things off our list, uncomfortable feelings rise.  Instead of returning to "doing", sit with these feelings and observe what is happening.  Trust me.  The answers you want lie just underneath those uncomfortable feelings.