Rushing through our busy lives as mothers or business owners, it’s easy to get trapped in the idea that we can’t be who we truly are. We put on masks to make others happy, sacrifice our own needs, and can end up feeling like we’re living someone else’s life. Even if we’re raising healthy and happy children or successfully running a business, these successes may not translate into true fulfillment because they are not in line with our values or our authentic selves.
We’ve been taught the value of mission statements in our professions, but most of us don’t realize that personal mission statements are even more crucial to our well-being. The key to balance is having a strong core built on authentic values and ensuring that the decisions we make and actions we take fall in line with what truly matters to us. Connecting to that core triggers positive transformation, but it can be difficult to get started on that path. Here are three tips to start the process.
Listen to Our Inner Voice
We all have an inner voice that is constantly trying to get our attention and express itself. However, if we tune out that voice long enough, it can fade or even disappear completely. When we listen to that voice, we encourage it, and it will become stronger. The voice is our authentic self reminding us the importance of being us and all that entails. Not only is it almost always correct, but it’s also the beacon that keep us on the right path.
Realize Happiness Does Not Come from the Outside
If we seek happiness and fulfillment in the outside world through accomplishments and relationships, we’ll never find what we’re looking for. True happiness lies within. When we reconnect with our inner selves, we feel enlightened and cared for. This fills us with power and love that we can then use to give love to the outer world instead of always trying to get love to make us feel complete. When we fill ourselves up we are then free to share that energy with others.
Tap into Our Inner Child
Remember what it was like to be a child? We spent our days playing and laughing and finding ways to satisfy our curiosity about the world. Unfortunately, most of us have lost that innocent quality as we’ve grown and we’ve become convinced we need to be ‘serious’ if we’re going to succeed. The good news is, that child still exists within all of us, and we can reconnect by relaxing and being playful as adults. Singing a nonsense song, dancing around the living room, or even playing a fun board game with our kids can be enough to free that trapped part of us and allow us to be happy again.
It’s easy to feel like our world is becoming deeply mired in inauthenticity and image. When we feel like this, it can be very difficult to tap into our true selves and express who we really are. With the above tips, you can start making strides in that direction, though, and become an example for all those who are also getting lost along the way. When we take steps toward our authentic selves, we become important warriors in the efforts to transform the world.