Here are some exercises you might feel compelled to do..
Exercise 1
Write your response to the following:
I am…
1.
2.
3.
The only right answer is the one that you give. There is no wrong answer when you are responding on your own behalf. On a scale of 1-10, how comfortable are you in answering this question? Notice your feelings as you ask yourself, “who am I”? What is your emotional response? Is it excitement, fear, wonder, confusion, trepidation, or just a positive or negative reaction? If you don’t know, this is fine too. Write down just one word that describes your response:
My emotional response is…………………………….
Do not be afraid of your emotions, they are a gift to you, to allow you to know where you are right now. If you feel fear, allow yourself to be afraid. Do not become afraid of this fear and add another layer in which to process with. Emotions are emotions, they are your inner guidance system. Both positive and negative emotions are perceptions – some people will say fear is good, some will say bad. For now, allow.
If you are finding your emotions are too much to experience alone, find someone to talk to; a friend or professional. If you prefer to work alone, visit http://www.emofree.com and download the free booklet on how to become free from emotion that is causing you difficulty.
Exercise 2
Find a moment for yourself, and take time to reflect on the question ‘who am I?’ I find that answers come to me in the period after meditation, and would write a question at the top of my journal, such as Who am I? And then just write down whatever thoughts come to mind.
If you haven’t meditated before, go to my website http://www.theemergingpath.com/free-meditations.html and download a free meditation in order to create a space for to work. I highly recommend you perform a meditation where you let all thoughts go, and as you come back into being, spend 5 minutes writing without thought. Let the words flow. I start writing with “I am…”
If you feel resistance to meditating, trust your own guidance of how you can best receive your messages. Take a walk in a park, sit in the garden, listen to some music – do what you need to do to give yourself permission to take time-out’.
Exercise 3
Ask the Universe for help, then set yourself an intention that you are on the way to finding out, to who you really are. Ask the universe to show you what you need to know, or do to help you on this quest. Trust that the messages will come to you, as you go about your day. Give thanks in advance of receiving this information.
You might just say this in your head, you might want to create more ritual around the intention – whatever works for you to acknowledge that you are asking, and releasing until you are ready to know more. When I asking, sometimes I will light a candle, construct some meaningful words, and verbally make a statement out loud. For example:
“Dear Universe, please help me to trust that all is well with <this situation>. Please show me the way forward that is for my highest good. Thank you.
In this case, you might ask:
“Dear <whoever/whatever>, please show me ways in which to discover ‘who I am’. Thank you.
Once you have asked, you can affirm to yourself that you are in the process of self-discovery..
“I am discovering who I am”.
If you meet any resistance to this statement, change it. If you don’t feel you are in that space yet, reflect how you are feeling right now:
“I am on my way to discovering who I am”.
Sometimes I ask, or affirm to myself whilst I am in the car. I’ll take a walk somewhere and will talk to my higher self, or my guides and ask for support or guidance on specific things. My husband will often joke with me that I am having conversations in my head – he knows when I am working something through, or asking for assistance. As far as I am concerned, prayer, and setting intentions is like your telephone line to the universal source of all knowledge and wisdom. If you don’t ask, you don’t get.
Once you have asked, you move on. When you are ready to receive, you will find that answers will come to you in a variety of ways – a thought, a song on the radio, reading a newspaper, or a book. It may be through something someone has said, for universal wisdom is to be found in the everyday.
You might feel compelled to do another activity – just something that eventually leads to the answer. You may also find that the answer comes to you slowly over a period of time through various means that you suddenly realise through looking back how things have just come into your knowing. When you are in these moments of realisation, give gratitude for what has been unfolded to you.
Discovering who you are, your values, your vision and your destiny is your ‘true north’ in times of disorientation. I also like to use the analogy of a light-house, which is guiding you in stormy waters. When you know what is important to you, what you stand for, and where you are heading, you are better equipped for your journey and will find it easier to navigate through turbulent times.