Who are you? What’s your motivation??
Well, I just spent 25% of the time I had allocated for writing this post on searching for a segment from Community where they are trying to capitalize off of Ben Chang’s momentary stardom by creating an absolutely terrible sci-fi movie wherein they use previously filmed clips of Chang, and in those clips, he keeps repeating, “Who am I? What’s my motivation??”
Wow. That was a really impressive run-on sentence.
What’s the point, you’re wondering??
Two points.
- If you are hankering for some brilliant TV, and you haven’t watched Community. Stop reading this right now and go watch Community. SO GOOD.
- That question of “Who Am I?” is kind of an important one.
As I mentioned in a previous email, I recently finished the book Healing Ourselves. This week I also finished Healers On Healing and started on Helping People Change. Guess what common theme is present in all 3 of these books, written by a whole slew of PhDs and doctors and scientists?
We have tremendous power to heal ourselves.
But, just because we have the power doesn’t mean we know how to use it. We are not conditioned to look inside ourselves for answers. We’re taught that answers are to be found in Parents, in Teachers, in Books, in The Science, in The Government, in People Smarter Than Us.
But what spiritual teachers and philosophers have taught for decades (and what current research on consciousness and meditation is proving out) is that the answers we seek are found by turning inwards and realizing that we are whole, and while we are One, we are also connected to Many, and that connection to Many (call it God, Oneness, the Universe, Zero Point Field, Universal Consciousness, Spirit, etc.), gives us access to all the answers, support, and guidance that we need – ALL INSIDE OF US.
But HOW? How do we start to find answers within ourselves??
All of these books, in addition to more secular books like Atomic Habits, and Working With Emotional Intelligence, emphasize the importance of tuning in to the Higher Self/Future Self/Best Self as a way of getting guidance and motivation for lasting behavior change.
But, again. HOW!
This is where I struggle. I understand the theory behind “the answers are within” but sometimes The Within is deathly silent and uncommunicative!
This is where I think “different strokes for different folks” can be very helpful.
When I’ve been guided by therapists to “ask your heart” when faced with a question, I’m often met with anxiety. “Shit. My heart’s not saying anything. I must be doing this wrong. How long will she wait before she gets impatient for an answer?? Why am I paying someone to make me do this? Ooh! There’s a thought. But is it coming from my mind or from my heart? Am I just projecting what I want my heart to say, or is it really saying it??”
And sometimes I do get an answer that way, even despite the Ego going into panicked overthinking.
But what I have found more helpful are writing exercises and guided meditations.
Several years ago I took a workshop from Ariel Kiley called Business of Yoga Success. One of the exercises she did was “Dream Lifestyle – Describe what your most fantastical ideal lifestyle would look like. What is your schedule? What’s your home like? Travel? Trainings? Family and friends? Have fun creating a fantastically comfortable and vibrant life that reflects your highest values.”
And I DID have fun with that. And the Future Heather I created in that writing exercise has come back to visit me often.
She came back to me when I did this Future Self meditation, where you meet 5 different versions of yourself and spend time connecting to the one who resonates most thoroughly. Path 4 Heather is, Man! SO COOL.
Meeting and tuning it to the energy of your Future Self can provide inspiration, motivation, and guidance. WWMFSD?? What Would My Future Self Do! James Clear recommends asking this question when you are trying to shift your behavior. How can I make a 1% better choice in this situation, aligned with my Future Self?
Your Future Self is a pretty handy mentor, guide, and healer. If you are interested in seeing what help you can give yourself, you could try out the Dream Lifestyle writing exercise or listen to the Future Self meditation (10 mins), or if you have a chatty heart, you could sit down, spend a few moments watching your breath, put your hand on your heart and ask for help. We are all unique snowflakes, so try out a few things and see what works for the N=1 experiment that is you!
Space to be Human Updates
- I’m hosting an Introduction to Mindset class on 1/24/22 from 1PM-2PM Central. If you feel tortured by your monkey mind (any fellow High Functioning Anxiety peeps out there??), you will find some relief in this class.
- Please register in advance for this meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMrd-ChpjMoEtYpcCkbuZuBn2JXR5S4dDE1
- After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
That’s all for today, my friends! Please respond to this email if you have any questions or comments. I really do love to hear from you; otherwise, I’m all like.. “Bueller…..Bueller….?”
Happy Sunday, My Lovely Readers!!
Newsletter signup
If you would like to sign up to get these posts sent to you directly, please click here.
