In our society, we are constantly being told what to eat, how to look, who to date, what to study, where to work… the list goes on and on. From the moment we’re born straight through to adulthood, we are constantly told what to do and how to be, whether by our parents, our peers, the media etc.
Which leaves many of us lost as to what it is that we want. We might be surprised to find out that we actually don’t know!
So how can we shift that? Let me share some strategies that have worked for me.
YOUR PLAN FOR GETTING TO THE BOTTOM OF WHAT YOU REALLY WANT…
- Work on developing self confidence
- Choose a question mantra that works for you and use it
- Be mindful and then answer the question from a place of stillness
- Stop and consider all your impulses
- Leverage coaching to help you on your journey to you
Let’s look at some of these points a little more closely.
WHAT WE NEED IS MORE CONFIDENCE!
: con·fi·dence
ˈkänfədəns,-fəˌdens/noun
1. the feeling or belief that one can rely on someone or something; firm trust.
In this case, that someone or something is YOU! The first part of any journey of self-discovery revolves around developing self-confidence.
Trust in yourself, know that you are the master of your destiny and that you get to constantly create yourself each and every moment!
GET THERE WITH MINDFULNESS.
If you are lucky enough to have a social network (including family and/or friends) that encourages you to be yourself, be an individual and be creative, then you might just be lucky enough to feel that confidence quite easily.
For the rest of us who have been told who to be and what to want our entire lives, it takes conscious effort and mindfulness to tap into our true selves and figure out what it is we truly do want.
One tactic that really helps me is to stop and ask myself “What do I truly want, in this moment?” I use it throughout my day and over and over – it’s like a little mantra. And it isn’t just useful for the heavier stuff! It can be used for something as simple as what to wear or what to drink. Eventually it becomes second nature to check in with yourself and tap into your true desires.
YOUR TRUTH OR AN IMPULSE?
Now, when I get an impulse, I ask myself, “Where did that come from?” Because we are so susceptible to marketing and propaganda, I maintain a vigilant focus on the roots of my desires so that I know I’m making a grounded decision that is for my long-term benefit and not a mindless, auto-pilot choice.
Deciding to determine what it is you want is step one. Finding the answer, no matter how big or how small, is a journey.
If you’ve spent your life letting everything out there define you, and now find yourself in a place of going, ‘wait, but what do I want?’ personal coaching could be just the tool you’ve been searching for. Click here to learn more.
When was the last time you made a choice that was truly what you wanted? No matter how simple, or how profound, would love to hear from you in the comments!