“What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand at stare. “
In the 1911 poem “Leisure” by W.H.Davies, the poet had long apprehended our inability to connect more with our inner self.
2021 has finally arrived. While many have already finalized their list of new year resolutions, some are still working on it. Last year was an eye-opening one. It taught us a lot. Among the many lessons that we received, one of the most important ones includes self-love and taking care of oneself. A prominent part of self-care involves self-introspection.
What is self-introspection?
Self-introspection refers to examining or evaluating a person’s feelings, thoughts, and sensations. Trapped in our everyday lives, we often forget to stop for a while and reflect on our self to gain better insights about our nature and the way our mind and heart works. In the fast-paced environment of today, it is important to set aside a part of the day and have some time for self-examination.
How to include self-introspection in your daily life?
Follow these tips to make self-introspection one of your daily habits:
Be grateful:
Our lives are blessed in more ways than one. However, we tend to take things for granted and fail to give them the value that they deserve. Try and be more grateful for all the things you have been blessed with in life. You can also start maintaining a gratitude journal.
Breathe consciously:
Though it is a natural exercise that you perform quite unknowingly, being conscious of your breathing is an effective thing. Breathing exercises help in stabilizing the heart rate. Practice it regularly to observe more clarity in your thoughts.
Meditate:
Choose a comfortable spot and dedicate some time daily for meditation. Try to sit alone in silence and discover how your mind wanders from one topic to another. Focus on your breathing and make a note of all that you think about.
Monitor your thoughts:
At the end of each day, write down your thoughts in a diary. Talk about how you have been feeling throughout the day. As you continue to do this, you might notice certain patterns in your behaviors or trends in your thoughts.
Note down:
Writing is a great exercise to let your feelings and thoughts out. It helps in decluttering the mind. Journalize your thoughts every day and look back at them to find out if it follows any particular order or pattern.
Read:
Reading works a great deal in exploring the self. You do not need to be an avid reader. Simply choose a book of your interest and read a page a day. Reading resembles meditation. It will help you find out what you enjoy and what you despise.
Reconnect with nature:
Humans and nature are integrated. Consider a walk in your garden or a cup of coffee with the terrace view. Looking at the natural things all around will calm your mind and soothe your senses. It will also boost positivity.
