When we think about being ourselves, the meaning behind that often gets pretty blurry. It requires thinking about what it means to embody our most authentic essence. And, more importantly, how you can reconnect with your true self.
While people do change over time, and even from day to day, being your true self means expressing the deepest you in every moment you get. No matter what you become or who you’ve been in the past, your true self wants you to shine your brightest colors at all times.
While figuring out your most authentic nature can seem daunting, confusing, you will know if you’ve been showing others who you are by how you feel inside. These signs can help you determine if you’re on the right track.
Ten Signs You May Be Losing Your True Self
1. You Feel Unhappy Most of the Time When You Lose Your True Self
Negative emotions will creep up more often than desired if you don’t embody your true self. Frequently feeling unhappy indicates something profound going on within you, so pay attention to your emotions.
You must make changes if you don’t feel content with yourself and your life. Becoming our true self starts with being honest with our emotions and feelings, so don’t hesitate to look within your soul when you feel you need a new beginning.
2. You Don’t Feel Comfortable Around Most People
Another indicator of not being yourself lies in how you interact with others. If you feel uncomfortable or often cancel plans with people, this might signal the need to reevaluate yourselves and the people you keep in your life.
Surround yourself with positive people who make you feel good about yourself. If the people around you don’t reflect your most authentic self, this might mean that you don’t know yourself on an intimate level. It could also indicate that you ignore your highest self because you continue hanging out with those who don’t resonate with you.
3. You Judge Others Frequently
Judging others often means seeing something in ourselves we don’t like and seeing this in everyone we meet. If you don’t like yourself, you probably won’t enjoy anyone else either. In becoming our authentic selves, we can begin to strip away the layers of hate and judgment and remove the need to judge others so harshly.
4. You Don’t Value Your True Self
Becoming your most authentic self means valuing your being. If you don’t respect yourself, you likely haven’t gone inside your soul to reveal the truth within you.
You spend the most time with yourself, so you must learn to love the person inside to live life genuinely. When you see your self-worth, you will begin to value others that much more.
5. You Seek Acceptance from Others
In life, we can’t always gain the approval of others. Plus, if you skip that step and look to yourself for validation, you won’t need the acceptance of others.
Looking to others for approval means you don’t trust yourself enough to decide for yourself. When you become your most authentic self, you learn to trust your intuition and not let the opinions of others sway you.
6. You Feel Negative Emotions Quite Often
Feeling negative emotions more than positive usually means you haven’t allowed your true self to emerge. When we move into a place of love, compassion, and acceptance for ourselves, we remove those layers of negative thinking and programming and see the beauty of positive living. While you will still feel negative emotions when you embody your true self, you’ll begin to master your mind and recognize the importance of filtering those heavy emotions.
7. You Don’t Express Yourself Authentically
In life, we have the privilege of expressing ourselves however we desire. We all come into this world with different likes, dislikes, strengths, and weaknesses, so when you become the truest form of yourself, you know how to express yourself in the purest form. When you don’t do this, you stifle the free-flowing energy in your body and feel stuck within yourself.
8. You Hang Out with People You Dislike
Another indicator that you haven’t found your authentic self is keeping friends around that you don’t like. Our friends should uplift us and provide meaning in our life. If you frequently hang out with people who don’t resonate with you, you need to look in the mirror and ask if they add value to your life and why you choose to keep them around.
9. You Do Activities Your True Self Does Not Enjoy
Also, when you don’t act like yourself, you’ll engage in activities you don’t like. When we become who we were meant to be, we automatically feel drawn to specific activities and people, and everything untrue seems to fall away.
10. You Second Guess Your Intuition
Finally, you’ll question your heart when you act like anything except your highest self. You’ll take longer to make decisions and often disregard your first gut feeling. Our intuition can guide us through life so we may live according to our truth, but denying it will only set us back on our course.
10 Habits That Help You Reconnect with Your True Self
When you want to reconnect with yourself, you must make lasting changes in your life. Beneficial changes will affect all areas where you feel trapped or frequently struggle.
1. Take a Digital Break to Reclaim Your True Self
The first way you can connect with yourself is by taking a break from electronics. First, don’t check your email or social media for at least the first hour of your day. Instead, use that time to care for yourself, meditate, stretch, or do anything else that helps you check in with yourself.
Don’t leave your phone on the table during mealtimes so that you can be present while you eat. Engage with the people around you, instead, and you’ll notice a quick improvement.
Additionally, choose three days each month where you don’t use electronics. Don’t use your phone, internet, social media, or TV. You can take the time to go camping, hiking, or go to the beach without the internet.
2. Do Things That Align with Your Soul
Figuring out what aligns with your soul is pretty simple if you do what feels good and makes you smile. Think about what would make you feel best about yourself and your life regarding your career and relationships. Follow your heart with little decisions, too, because eventually, they become the big things.
Consider why you want the things you desire, and remember your reason. Use it to create intentions that guide you to make the best decisions for your life. Set goals based on your intentions, and break them down into actionable steps that allow you to see your progress.
You’ll feel much happier when you feel like you’re learning and getting closer to your goals. It helps you recognize who you are again, allowing you to do more of what you love.
3. Spend Time with Like-minded People
Spend your time with people who have dreams and goals. Your friends and loved ones should bring out the best in you, not encourage mistakes or regression. Surround yourself with people who love you for who you are and will offer support at any moment.
4. Reconnect With Your True Self by Practicing Gratitude
When gratitude is a habit, it can be life-changing as it is a powerful way to get in tune with your true self. It constantly reminds you of the good things in your life, helping you appreciate who you are and what you’ve accomplished.
When you focus on the positive aspects of your life, you’ll become much happier. It increases your happiness levels and allows you to identify yourself.
5. Regularly Spend Time Outside
Spending time outside each day is beneficial for connecting with yourself. Make it a point to leave your phone behind when you go so that you can be present in each moment. Not only will you reconnect with yourself, but you’ll feel closer to nature, too.
6. Stop Being a People Pleaser
People-pleasing causes you to put yourself last as you constantly do things you don’t want or need to do. Stay true to yourself by prioritizing yourself and learning to say no to others. Taking care of yourself is not selfish, and it helps you rediscover who you are.
7. Honor Your True Self
Regularly spend time reflecting on what makes you who you are. Think about your talents, strengths, and gifts, and identify your favorite parts of yourself. Then, consider what you need to thrive and feel good about your life.
8. Learn to Say Yes and No at the Right Times
When you say no to things you don’t want to do, it frees up your time to do activities that bring joy and excitement. It fills your life with what you love, helping you stay in synch with your true self. Remember that changing your mind about things is also okay, even if someone is upset.
9. Talk About Things You’re Interested In
If you always let other people dictate the conversation, you won’t ever get to discuss things you want to talk about. Don’t be afraid to speak up or shift the conversation. It can change the way you feel about interacting with others, and it can change the dynamics of your relationships.
10. Honor Your True Self by Eating Healthy Foods
When you eat foods that make you feel good, it gives you a clearer mind and a better understanding of who you are. It goes beyond eating healthy, too.
If you want to stop eating meat or drinking alcohol, do it. If it makes you feel good about yourself and what you take in, you’ll reconnect with yourself sooner.
Final Thoughts on Being Your True Self
Living life intentionally is the best way to identify yourself. Do the things that make you happy and help you feel good.
When you live for yourself, nothing can stand in the way of who you are. If you recognize the signs that you’re losing your true self, use the advice above to embrace yourself again.
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