Will the real YOU stand up!

It seems an odd idea that you could be anything other than who you are on the surface. But from the time we can talk, we are being programmed to “fit in.” We find ourselves conforming to please the people we love and who love us.

But sometimes, that means that you must suppress what you know is the natural person inside.

And yet, your relationship with yourself is the most important relationship you will ever have. Without a healthy relationship with yourself, it is impossible to have healthy relationships with anyone else.

If you are ready to get reacquainted with someone you haven’t seen in a while – yourself – start with these four ideas to help you rediscover the real you.

- Quiet the noise in your head

You know those voices well, the ones that are constantly nagging you to pick up the dry cleaning, talk to the schoolteacher, juggle the bills, schedule the vet, keep the boss happy. It will be impossible for you to hear anything with all that noise going on. This MUST be the first step. How do you do that? By setting up systems, simplifying, and establishing enough extras in your life to allow you to run from a position of abundance instead of lacking.

- Practice thinking about yourself in healthy ways

To do that, you must first believe that you are valuable, and your Real Self has something to offer the world. Since you talk to yourself more than everyone else in your life combined --that is a lot of talking! —it’s up to YOU to establish healthy communication in your thinking. Consciously listen to how you talk to yourself; write down the unhealthy things you say, challenge them, and replace them with facts. Self-Talk: “You never do anything right.” Challenge: “Of course I do things right. I did (example) right. I did (example) right. This time, I just made a mistake. I’ll learn from it and have better success next time.”

- Listen to your heart

Sounds easy enough, but by the time we are adults, most of us have stopped listening to our hearts and go only with our heads. Those two must reconnect to find your authentic self. It’s easy to become accustomed to thinking about your feelings instead of feeling them. Instead of asking yourself what you think about something, ask why it is essential.

- Be careful not to get hung up on a specific goal

What you are really after is a feeling -- respect, love, appreciation - as opposed to the company car or a great guy/girl. Keep an open mind to the senses and be willing to adjust the methods you use to achieve them. Determine not just your goals, but how it satisfies who you are. The mask will come off, and your authentic self will come shining through.

A person you can know and love - you! - is waiting for you to take the time to listen and understand and accept. When you accept your Real Self again, you will make more intelligent choices, and those choices will stick because they fit who you are. Now, that is what you are looking for, isn't it?