Asking Yourself The Big Questions
I had a friend text me the other day and she asked, “What are some hard questions that made you sit, think long and hard and made positive shifts within yourself that you wish most people would ask themselves too?”
Whoa. Heavy stuff, right? We’ve all been there.
But seeing as how I’ve got a few friends in hard spots with unmoveable rocks, I wanted to consider this. What would I ask myself?
What do I deserve?
What do I want in life? Is this too vast and overwhelming to consider? What would my perfect morning look like? Afternoon? Night? Week?
How have I contributed to this life I’m living?
Am I looking at this logically? Emotionally? Realistically?
What is true about my life right now?
What’s the best and worst thing that could happen from this shift/change?
(If you’re a parent): What do I want to teach my kids through my actions?
(If you’ve lost a close loved one): Is this the life my X would’ve wanted for me?
If I could be 10% happier, what would that look like? Where would that manifest?
What am I ingesting? Am I scrolling mindlessly or watching informative videos? Am I eating vibrant healthy food or numbly eating processed foods? Am I listening to inspiring, educational things or listening to celebrities deny their plastic surgery? What are you taking in?
Am I doing enough to make sure I am in the best place I can be? Could I do one extra thing today or change one thing today that will compound into a new healthy habit?
Am I exercising my body? My brain? My soul? My energy?
Deep questions require deep excavation. Read through this and then come back to this exercise.
Get settled in a comfortable position. I prefer sitting upright on a yoga block but if you don’t have one, tucking a pillow or two under you will help.
Ensure you have a minimum of five minutes for this practice. Gentle music may be a bonus.
Close your eyes.
Slowly start taking deep breaths through your nose and exhale through pursed lips (it should sound like air releasing out of a tire). Fill your belly with air and let your exhale be longer than your inhale.
Feel into your body. Start with your feet and move your way up your body while continuing your slow, deep breathing.
As you relax your body and feel into it, thank each thought that enters and come back to your breath. Feel how the air hits your nostrils. Feel your body against the bed/floor/chair. Connect to the space in between your fingers. Feel your pulse in your fingertips.
When you feel fully relaxed and embodied, imagine what your life could look like. Are you baking bread daily in the sunshine while your homeschooled kids play nicely outside? Are you standing on a stage in front of 5,000 people sharing your stories? Are you travelling the world like a nomad, blogging about it as you go? Are you the CEO of an innovative company? Are you someone who’s calmer, drinking tea with a good book each night? The possibilities are endless. Pick even one thing you want to embody. What does that person feel like? What does a writer do? What does a musician do? What does a homesteader do? Feel into that. Let your cells vibrate with that awareness. Allow your body to step into this new idea/habit/hobby/life. Ask yourself whatever questions you may have. See what your soul says. Listen for the answers. Keep breathing deeply and with awareness.
Allow gratitude to fill your heart, your mind, your soul, your cells. Thank the Universe/God/Source/Creator for giving you this incredible life. Wrap that gratitude around you like a warm, fuzzy blanket.
Open your eyes. Give yourself a hug.
Repeat as necessary.
May you find the rest and surrender to connect to your Higher Self and hear the answers you know are within.