5 Ways to Deeply Connect With Yourself

In today’s fast-paced world, the ceaseless drumbeat of obligations—family, work, personal needs—not only monopolizes our time but often steals our capacity to focus on the most important project of all: ourselves. It’s like being a ship caught in a perpetual storm; if you’re too busy managing the sails and mending the cracks, you’ll never have the time to steer your vessel to calmer waters.

What Does ‘Connecting with Yourself’ Really Mean?

Connecting with yourself is not just about solitary moments with a good book or a meditative state achieved during a yoga session. It is about establishing an ongoing relationship with your inner self. Think of it as keeping the lines of communication open with the most integral part of you. In simple terms, it’s about:

• Listening: Tuning into your thoughts and feelings instead of suppressing them.

• Understanding: Decoding what your emotions are signalling, much like translating a foreign language you’ve neglected since high school (for me it’s French & Australian Sign Language!).

• Responding: Taking constructive actions that align with your intrinsic needs and values.

In an era where our fight-or-flight mechanisms are regularly triggered – thanks to looming work deadlines, family commitments, and a 24/7 news cycle – connecting with oneself becomes a quintessential tightrope walk. It’s akin to balancing a plate filled with responsibilities while crossing a chasm of stress. Fall off, and you’re enveloped in the fog of anxiety, depression, and chronic fatigue.

Here’s a thought-provoking truth: While you can delegate tasks and responsibilities, you can never outsource the duty of caring for yourself. The process starts and ends with you. Your responsibility for self-care is as irrevocable as it is empowering. To put it in stark terms, if you don’t attend to your inner life, who will?

It’s crucial to differentiate between self-care and self-indulgence. Whereas self-indulgence is like a sugary treat that brings momentary pleasure but long-term regret, self-care is the balanced diet your mind, body, and soul require for long-term wellness. Connecting with yourself goes far beyond fleeting feel-good activities; it demands an investment of time and a commitment to understanding who you are at your core.

So, as you strive to meet your daily challenges head-on, remember: Building a better relationship with yourself is not just a nicety—it’s a necessity.

Below are 5 Ways to Connect with Yourself

1. Practice Self-Compassion – you may not be where you want to be, look like you want to look, or have the relationship or career you want to have… yet! Give yourself permission to be a work in progress and allow yourself space to continue learning and growing with compassion for who you are right now.
2. Explore your Values – what do you hold most important in this life you’re living? Each choice you make either aligns with or detours from your values. Identifying your personal Values strengthens your sense of purpose and gives your life direction.
3. Tune Inward Daily – with so many distractions ‘out there’ it’s even more important to stay aware of what’s going on inside your mind, body and heart. Journaling your thoughts, worries, dreams and gratitude is a wonderful practice combining imagination and mindfulness. And Meditation is a chance to practice inner calm and greater resilience for the demands of daily life.
4. Consciously Breathe – Become aware of your breath and deliberately follow it into your heart and lungs. Settle your attention into the energy and notice tension, tightness or restriction in your neck, chest and shoulders. Check in regularly throughout the day with your breath as your guide and let your exhale be a reminder to let go of everything not within your control.
5. Notice Nature – go outside and feel the sun on your skin. Walk barefoot on the grass. Take a stroll through the park. Listen to the birds chattering in song. Smell the fresh air and let yourself be fully present and surrounded by nature’s warmth and support. Remember how wondrous the world can be.