You have probably read tons of articles on how to develop healthy relationships with other people. Yet, we don’t see many that talk about how to connect with yourself on a deeper level.
The irony with this is that no other relationship is as vital to your health as the relationship and connection that you have with yourself. You may not be aware of it, but this relationship with yourself dictates everything in your life. It shapes the way you manage relationships, deal with colleagues, and even how you sleep at night.
Today, we’re going to reveal how improving your connection to yourself can make you a happier and more fulfilled individual.
How To Connect With Yourself On A Deeper Level
Here are some of the best ways and things that you can do to learn how to connect with yourself. Let’s look at them.
Listen to Yourself
When something feels off, pay attention to what your gut is telling you. Even if it’s difficult, uncomfortable, or goes against the grain of what others are telling you.
Let yourself feel and get comfortable with your emotions and beliefs. When you listen to what your body and gut are telling you, you’ll feel inner peace and a sense of belonging.
After a while, you’ll get better at understanding your body’s cues and signals. Only then can you start improving your connection to yourself.
Take your beliefs, feelings, and goals seriously. Then, you have to realize that your imperfections and strengths are two sides of the same coin. They coexist to make up the person you are today.
It’s important to remember that no one in the world knows what it’s like to be you. This is why you have to be your own best friend. Learn to show yourself empathy and self-compassion.
Understand Your Likes and Dislikes
Knowing what you like and don’t like is the definition of self-acceptance. It also means that you don’t change the way you live or the way you do certain things to please other people. Allow yourself to be truly seen for who you are, both the good and bad.
This can be hard at times. Our society conditions us to live by other people’s rules and we have always been conditioned that this is the only way to fit in and be accepted.
Realizing that we’re all different means accepting your individuality, and understanding your likes and dislikes is a big part of that.
Once you know what you like and what you dislike, then you can do more of what makes you happy.
Be Kind To Yourself
Most times we can be our own worst enemies. We constantly criticize, prick, and prod at our imperfections without mercy.
Our weight usually tops the list. But there are other things we obsess over as well, like the shape of our nose or the freckles on our faces.
Why not try something different for a change? The next time you look in the mirror, find one thing you appreciate about yourself. Praise yourself and show gratitude for them.
We’re not saying this will be easy. In fact, you may not even think of anything, in the beginning, to be thankful for.
Don’t be surprised, you’re not alone. Almost nine times out of ten, your eye will automatically fall on the features you don’t like about yourself.
But don’t worry. With daily practice, you’ll be able to make a list of all those things that make you beautiful and unique.
What about those other things you don’t like? Learn to accept them. They’re still part of what makes you the special and unique person you are. How to connect to yourself is about learning to accept yourself and love yourself.
Cultivate Encouraging Behavior
Many of us have an all-or-nothing attitude. We decide to do something then as soon as we start to fall back, we give up!
Did you know that perfectionism actually leads to depression? It gets you in this vicious cycle of self-blame and negativity, which can lead you to a dark and lonely place.
To avoid this toxic cycle, begin by accepting that you’re not perfect. You will mess up and your day won’t always go the way you planned it, but that’s totally okay.
Let’s say you set up a goal of going to the gym five times a week for an hour. The first week goes as you planned, but the second week, you miss a day (or two)!
You can do one of two things: call the whole thing off or you can pick up where you left off. If, by week three, you feel that five days is too much, tone it down a bit. Maybe go for half an hour instead of a full 60 minutes.
This doesn’t have to just apply to exercise. It can also apply to your diet, sleep, and work goals. Show yourself some love and encouragement and do the work. Everything else will follow through.
Establish Good Habits
Setting up healthy habits is a sure way to improve your relationship with yourself. Start from when you first wake up in the morning all the way to when you go to sleep.
Some of these habits include:
- Journaling
- Write down positive affirmations
- Exercise regularly
- Actively plan healthy, well-balanced meals
- Practice mindful meditation
- Smile more often
- Finding things to be grateful for
- Working on your mindset
Having good self-esteem strengthens your sense of self. It’s one of the best ways to develop a healthy relationship with yourself and, ultimately, with others. Each of the techniques above aims at improving your connection to yourself. That should be your number one priority.
By practicing them daily, they can boost our self-confidence and help us stay grounded. As a result, we’re able to form a strong, well-balanced connection to ourselves. Only then can we start living in alignment with who we truly are.
Please comment below if you have any other thoughts on how to connect with yourself.
