How to Rediscover Your True Self

On the surface, it appears strange to think that you could be someone other than yourself. But, from the time we can speak, we are programmed to "fit in." We find ourselves conforming to please those we care about and who care about us.

However, this sometimes necessitates suppressing what you know to be your true self on the inside.

Nonetheless, your relationship with yourself is the most important one you'll ever have. It's nearly impossible to have healthy relationships with others if you don't have a healthy relationship with yourself.

If you're ready to reconnect with someone you haven't seen in a long time – yourself – start with these four ideas to help you rediscover your true self.

- Reduce the amount of noise in your head.

You're familiar with those voices, the ones that constantly remind you to pick up the dry cleaning, talk to the teacher, pay the bills, schedule the vet, and keep the boss happy. With all that noise going on, you won't be able to hear anything above the din. This HAS TO BE THE VERY FIRST STEP. How do you go about doing that? By establishing systems, simplifying, and creating enough extras in your life to allow you to operate from a position of abundance rather than scarcity.

- Experiment with thinking about yourself in healthy ways.

To accomplish this, you must first believe that you are valuable and that your True Self has something to offer the world. Because you talk to yourself more than anyone else in your life combined—a that's a lot of talks!—it's up to YOU to instill healthy communication in your mind. Consciously pay attention to how you speak to yourself; write down the negative things you say; challenge them, and replace them with facts. "You never do anything right," says your inner critic. "Of course, I do things correctly." I did (example) correctly. I did (example) correctly. I made a mistake this time. I'll learn from it and be more successful the next time."

- Pay attention to your heart.

Sounds simple enough, but by the time we reach adulthood, most of us have stopped listening to our hearts and instead rely solely on our heads. These two must be reunited for you to discover your true self. It's easy to get into the habit of thinking about your feelings rather than feeling them. Rather than asking yourself what you think about something, ask yourself why it is essential.

- Take care not to become fixated on a specific goal.

You want a feeling – respect, love, appreciation – rather than a company car or a great guy/girl. Please keep an open mind about your feelings and be willing to change your methods of achieving them. Determine not only your goals but also how it satisfies your true self. You will remove the mask, and your true self will shine through.

You, a person you can know and love, are waiting for you to listen, understand, and accept. When you get your True Self again, you'll make better decisions, and those decisions will stick because they are true to who you are. Isn't that precisely what you're looking for?