Know Yourself & your energy

Transcription

1 A Taste of Shhh... (Sample) LESSON one Know Yourself & your energy Who in the world am I? Ah, THAT S the great puzzle. - Alice in Wonderland When Alice fell down the rabbit hole she bumped into creatures who either asked who she was or insisted she was someone else. This led to a lot of confusion as she was stretched, shrunk, shoved in teapots, and pretending to be someone else to avoid having her head chopped off! As a more introverted being, you might have found yourself pondering the world and your place in it quite a bit (not unlike Alice, the ultimate storybook introvert, herself). Perhaps you re feeling a little bit lost. Or you ve hidden parts of yourself to fit in, to be more outgoing, to conform to the extraverted ideal society so vehemently supports. Maybe you just feel like a square peg in a round hole, or you re just starting to work out where you belong. Maybe, before now, you ve completely given in and lost sight of who you really are and what you really want. If so, you aren t alone, please don t forget that. As kids, we head off to school, full of joy and possibility but we become so quickly aware of the importance of fitting in that we can hide our truest nature, not wanting to be seen as a loner, a nerd, or a bookworm if we don t fall into line with those around us. We get older and we get even better at taking on chameleon-like personalities to become more like those we (or society) deems more successful, worthy, or socially acceptable, noticing that when we embrace our quiet side, we can be labelled unenthusiastic, disengaged, or shy. If you ve spent your life hiding behind a mask, feeling guilty or ashamed for enjoying time alone or feeling socially uncomfortable or awkward, you might be as confused as Alice. But, all over the place, introverts are finding their voices and speaking up. It would seem a bit of a revolution is coming, where the traits of the introvert are being both recognised and celebrated. And it s time for you to as well. It s time to dive in deep and reconnect with all the parts you ve hidden away, made excuses for, or ignored for so long in hopes that no one would notice who you really are. Because, as much as you might have thought there s something wrong with you, there isn t, and realising this brings you one step closer to accepting yourself as you are. When you glimpse your truest self, you re able to see where you are in the world and what you re here to do. That s where you ll find freedom, clarity, and a heart full of purpose. Shhh... 1

2 Answer this: Can you remember the last time you were genuinely you and truly happy about it? Sit for a few minutes, close your eyes and go back to that time. Soak up that moment. What were you doing? Who were you with? How did it feel to be your most real YOU?

3 5 ways to know yourself better Know and accept yourself and you will never again need to make excuses for who you are or wonder if anyone likes you. Grab a journal or notebook and get ready to do some free writing. 1. Pay attention to what you like and don t like in your life. What could you talk about for hours? What do people always ask you for help with that makes you feel good? 2. Tune into your emotions - the positive and negative. Dig until you find the core of where those feelings come from. 3. Take note of what makes you feel happy or fulfilled and how you can incorporate more of that into your life. 4. Catch the stories you tell yourself. When they pop into your head during the day, write them down and look for what your mind chatter is really saying. 5. Think back to when you were a kid, what were you naturally drawn to, what did you love doing? What did you dismiss or ignore? I find that when we really love and accept and approve of ourselves exactly as we are, then everything in life works. - Louise Hay Shhh... 3

4 own your energy On the Myers-Briggs personality test, the results state a percentage result for extroversion that indicates where you sit on the introvert-extravert spectrum. The more introverted you are, the more you ll need alone time to re-energise or process information. And, with that, you have a starting point for your unique blend of energy and what you need to function at your best. Not to make excuses or use your introversion to hide from your own personal growth, but to thrive. Not to protect your energy as though there is a lack of it (pfft to that, I say), but to honour your energy and flourish. It s also not about becoming more outgoing/ extraverted, or faking it till you make it. Because, ick. It s about discovering where you are and being mindful of what you love, what you need, and what makes you feel energised. Blissfully being you and the radical self acceptance that comes with it. Retreating to your quiet (and happy place) with joyful abandon. Opting out of big social engagements, guilt free. Basking in your rich inner life with contentment. Imagine letting go of a career that exhausts you, or declining an invitation that demands a lot of your energy. Opting out of the exhaustion or frustration you ve naturally come to accept as a part of your life, and demanding more. More energy, more time for things you love, and more joy at being unapologetically you. I protect my energy by remaining grounded and owning my own energy - Belinda Davidson If you re closer to the middle of the introvert/ extravert scale, you might be confused by your outgoing nature. Being more introverted doesn t mean you re not a people person, it just means that you ll need some alone time at some point. so, what s your style? Do you already know that you re going to choose Netflix on the couch on a Saturday night over a big night out with friends? Do you notice that, at night after talking to people at work all day, you re worn out by your partner needing to vent to you over dinner? Or do you get unusually frustrated when a family member drops in on you without warning? Maybe even screening calls because you have an aversion to talking on the phone? The thing about your energy is, it s your own. Yes, you fall on the introvert/extravert scale at a certain point, but that can change depending on the situation, who you re around, and what you re doing. Not to mention all the other facets of your life and personality that can t be distinguished from a personality test. You are not bound by your results. The best thing you can do is start to pay more attention and own your unique blend of energy and really know yourself. When you see what s going on, you can adjust what isn t working and focus on what is. But, most importantly, you will develop a profound understanding of you. One that no one can talk you out of. Shhh... 4

5 energy tracker Over the next week, pay attention to your energy levels. When do you feel alert, awake and energised? When do you feel bleh? Is it because of something in particular? Is it during a certain time of the day? Look out for signs and take note of them. WHEN DO YOU FEEL ENERGISED WHEN DO YOU FEEL DRAINED MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY WHAT PATTERNS DO YOU SEE (I.E certain time/events/people that drain or energise you): Shhh... 5

6 My energy isn t low or high, it s mine. My unique and positive presence. My energy is calm, attentive, curious, and centred. That s what is authentic to me. It s an energy that has it s own power and magnetism, no better or worse than an energy that spins visibly faster. - Beth Buelow, Insight

7 5 ways to understand your energy better 1. Pay attention to how you feel when you re out in a public place, where there are lots of people around. 2. How do you feel when you re at an event or in a situation where you need to make small talk with people? 3. What about when you re home alone or doing something quiet like reading, journaling, or meditating? 4. How do you feel around friends or family? Do you feel good when you leave them? Does that change depending on how many people are around? 5. How do you feel when meeting strangers or being put on the spot to answer questions or respond to something? on a personal note... One day at work I noticed when there were two or three of my friends in the lunchroom, I was vibrant, animated and chatty. But, as soon as one or two more people joined, I would become very, very quiet and often withdraw from the conversation, or even find a reason to leave the room. Once we noticed it, it became a bit of a running joke. It was never about who was in the room, but how many people were there. But it s a true mark of where my limit was. I m good around a handful of people, but once that group expands, it becomes overwhelming to me and I tap out. kms Shhh... 7

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