Connecting with Yourself
Take a moment to think about the people that you spend most of your time around and are closest to. Maybe it's friends from school, your parents, siblings, teammates, mentors, or other family members.
But, would you count yourself to be in this group too?
It can seem kind of silly to say that you are your own best friend. But, when we think about it, it is so important to be connected with ourselves. All of us love and care for our friends, but sometimes we don't treat ourselves the same way. There are people that will be there to support us throughout every stage of our life, but at the end of the day, we still have to spend time with ourselves. Instead of being afraid or avoiding spending time with ourselves, how refreshing would it be to instead embrace it with open arms and excitement?
For some of us, connecting and spending time with ourselves comes more naturally. Like any other relationship, the relationship you have with yourself can be strengthened by investing in time and effort.
Here are some ways to connect with yourself:
Quiet time: Remove yourself from any distractions and spend time taking in the present moment and your surroundings
Hobbies: If you love to dance or bake, pick out a song to dance to or a new recipe to try out on your own! Doing something you love is a great way to start becoming more comfortable doing things with yourself
Journal: Sometimes it is easier to process our feelings, thoughts, and opinions when writing them down. By doing this, we can become more connected with ourselves because we are acknowledging and recognizing how we feel
Learning: Taking time to learn new information or skills is a great way to invest in yourself
The first step to connecting with yourself is being aware of your current relationship with yourself. In recognizing how you feel about spending time with yourself, you can address these feelings and focus on growing. Connecting with ourselves is a process that will change as we go through life, but it is one that is so important. As you focus on spending more time getting to know and understand yourself, remember to be patient and give yourself grace!
- Written by Karissa Maeda