Awareness of Action
When we check in with ourselves regularly, our actions will naturally become more mindful. When we're pursuing our goals, completing a difficult project, or managing our personal stress, if we take time to meditate and nonjudgmentally listen to our needs and feelings, we'll be more aware of what actions will lead us to the best outcome.
Check in with your thoughts and actions.
Do they lead to fulfillment? Do they harm others? Are they leading you closer to or further away from your goals?
Do they lead to fulfillment? Do they harm others? Are they leading you closer to or further away from your goals?
Daily Self Check-In
We usually project our best version to others. We try to be enjoyable, good people, even in times when we may not feel so good in that moment. Even if we're struggling internally, it's common to deflect from looking into our vulnerable feelings. Maybe you've experienced this when someone asks you how you're doing and you respond simply with, “Good” or “Fine.” Sometimes we must postpone emotional introspection to be be responsible to our duties and the sensitivities of other people, but it’s important to stay connected to our real, authentic feelings beneath the face we offer the public.
Take some time each day to check in with yourself. Uncover how you’re really feeling, and stay updated on how your feelings change throughout the day. The more frequently we acknowledge our true feelings, the more naturally we’ll share and express them creatively to other people. When we patiently and compassionately learn more about our feelings, we gain clarity of thought that ultimately improves the quality and balance of our emotional state.
Take some time each day to check in with yourself. Uncover how you’re really feeling, and stay updated on how your feelings change throughout the day. The more frequently we acknowledge our true feelings, the more naturally we’ll share and express them creatively to other people. When we patiently and compassionately learn more about our feelings, we gain clarity of thought that ultimately improves the quality and balance of our emotional state.
Do you know yourself deeply?
Have you stayed in touch with your emotional fluctuations today or have you distracted/disconnected from certain thoughts and feelings?
Have you stayed in touch with your emotional fluctuations today or have you distracted/disconnected from certain thoughts and feelings?
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Deepen Your Understanding: Emotional awareness is key in stress management. When we can recognize shifts in our emotional state, we can more quickly tend to negative emotions. When we know how to spiral up instead of spiral down emotionally, we will more gracefully find ease, contentment, and peace.
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“Where is my Mind Now?”
A great way to strengthen our mindfulness is to ask, “Where is my mind now?” Throughout the day we encounter endless distractions, stimuli, and stresses. If we ask ourselves this question regularly, we’ll develop a habit to check in with our mind that’ll help us build a strong self-awareness. We can reveal a great deal about ourselves by noticing where our mind bounces to. When we’re driving, when we’re working, when we’re listening to other people, or anytime we find ourselves getting distracted, this question can help us bring our attention back to the present moment.
“Where is my mind now?”
What Sparks Joy in You?
It’s easy to feel tired, uninspired, or overwhelmed when we get caught up in working hard, so we should try to balance our diligent time with some time dedicated solely to having fun. Sometimes we have to tend to our responsibilities, sure; but eventually we need to nourish our energy so that we can avoid emotional burnout.
Ponder the following questions to reflect on what kind of experiences you consider to be genuinely fun.
What are the first things to come to mind when you think about the following?
What are the first things to come to mind when you think about the following?
You’re smiling on the inside.
You feel good afterwards.
You don’t want it to end.
You can’t wait to do it again.
You lose track of time.
Your energy feels better.
Your worries disappear.
You feel refreshed.
You feel inspired.
You’re smiling so much your cheeks are sore.
You’re laughing so hard you’re crying or gasping for air.
You feel accomplished.
You feel nourished.
You feel happy.
You feel good afterwards.
You don’t want it to end.
You can’t wait to do it again.
You lose track of time.
Your energy feels better.
Your worries disappear.
You feel refreshed.
You feel inspired.
You’re smiling so much your cheeks are sore.
You’re laughing so hard you’re crying or gasping for air.
You feel accomplished.
You feel nourished.
You feel happy.
Whatever your answers are, brainstorm how you can enjoy these activities more often. When was the last time you really enjoyed yourself?
If it seems like a while ago, perhaps you’re due for a moment of enrichment! Remember to appreciate and savor the special moments of fun so that you can reflect and extend the best parts of each and every day!
If it seems like a while ago, perhaps you’re due for a moment of enrichment! Remember to appreciate and savor the special moments of fun so that you can reflect and extend the best parts of each and every day!
Questions to Prompt Self-Exploration
May you find insight, inspiration, and direction by contemplating the following:
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Are my daily actions supporting my needs, goals, and passions?
What are my greatest strengths? What are my challenges? What have I done to heal my childhood pain? How can I use my thoughts to heal myself? Are my thoughts empowering or disempowering me? |
Am I willing to make changes or try new things in order to grow?
What have I outgrown? What in my life needs tending? What am I resisting? What do I really need to say? What in my life needs forgiveness? |
Minding our Territory
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Each of us has a personal territory. We have our physical body and the sensations we feel, and we have our thoughts, emotions, and perceptions that make up our consciousness. You could say these things constitute our territory. Just like a mighty King would be wise to watch over his entire territory, not ignoring specific regions that were experiencing imbalance, we will prosper from being aware of the harmony within each region of our inner and outer selves. Our inner and outer selves are deeply connected, so if one area is feeling unsafe, stressed, or imbalanced, our whole system will suffer. When we have difficult feelings, we need to attend to the conflict just as a caring ruler would be present and solution-oriented for his people.
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When we feel uncomfortable, it can be tempting to distract ourselves or take refuge in mindless consumption, but we should challenge ourselves to make every effort to restore balance with our body and feelings. We can do this by grounding and finding peace in the present moment. When we connect our body and mind to the present moment, we can see more clearly so we may rule ourselves with honor and grace. We can transform and cultivate powerful feelings with mindful breathing, mindful walking, and other forms of present-moment consciousness. We can increasingly calm and settle our mental and physical systems by being mindful of the the foods, substances, and emotions we consume each day. By practicing this daily mindfulness, we can cultivate deep self awareness and use our energy of mindfulness to reign over our territory with peaceful loving-kindness.