CONNECTION to self REQUIREs slowing down
Rushing and constantly performing are almost the norm. We work, we maintain relationships, and even our free time has become a scheduled project. But in the midst of all this, is there time to really stop and ask ourselves: Who am I? What do I feel? What do I need? Questions that will strengthen our well-being when we reflect on them. Connection to self requires slowing down.
Self-knowledge and connection to ourselves are not things we can rush. They do not arise automatically or as a byproduct of filling our lives with various tasks. Self-knowledge requires space – time and peace where I can just be, without the demand to solve or complete.
WHY DOES SELF-KNOWLEDGE REQUIRE SPACE?
Self-knowledge does not arise on the fly, because it requires a deeper connection to one’s own feelings, thoughts, and needs. If the mind is constantly filled with external stimuli or internal pressures to perform, one simply cannot hear one’s own inner voice.
Self-awareness needs the right conditions to grow:
- Silence, so I can recognize what I really feel.
- Time, so I can give thoughts and feelings space to develop without rushing.
- Acceptance, so I can face myself without judgment
CONNECTION WITH YOURSELF – A CLOSENESS THAT CANNOT BE FORCED
Connecting with yourself is like building intimacy with another person. It cannot be rushed, and it does not come about simply out of desire or through force. Connection comes when you give yourself the space to be exactly who you are, in the experience of safety and presence. It means accepting your own feelings, even the uncomfortable and difficult ones.
Imagine meeting a friend who interrupts your every sentence or tries to solve all your problems before you have even had time to speak. We often act in the same way with ourselves. Do you really listen to yourself, or do you rush to find solutions so you can move forward quickly?
Connecting with yourself happens when you:
- Allow your feelings to be present without rushing to fix them
- Listen to your thoughts, needs, and body sensations with openness and compassion
- Accept yourself as incomplete and imperfect
SPACE, NOT MORE ACTION
When it comes to self-awareness, your first instinct is often to start doing something. Maybe you write down goals, start journaling, or take a self-awareness class. While these are all helpful, they don’t always provide what you need most: space to just be, slow down, and listen.
There are simple ways to create space:
- Pause during your day: Take even five minutes to sit quietly and breathe
- Focus on being, not doing: Sometimes just a walk in nature or a quiet moment with a cup of tea (a cup of coffee for me:) and listening can open your awareness more than any planned exercise.
SELF-KNOWLEDGE IS A JOURNEY, NOT A DESTINATION
Self-knowledge is not a goal that I reach, but an ongoing journey that changes with life. Similarly, connection with yourself is not a permanent state, but something that I have to nurture again and again. Times change, and so do you.
When you learn to give yourself space, slow down your being, and listen, you will find that the greatest gift you can give yourself is permission to be exactly where you are – without rushing, without solutions, without demands, just to feel. This gives your nervous system a momentary rest, and when repeated, these moments begin to have an effect that makes your nervous system calmer and it is easier to experience rest in the midst of everyday life. This in turn has many wonderful effects on your alertness, motivation, decision-making and much more. Another article about that later. 🙂
MAKE SPACE TODAY
What if today you gave yourself permission to stop? What if the next time you feel something strong, you didn’t try to fix it, but just listened? What if you started to treat yourself like a close friend – gently and appreciatively?
It doesn’t have to be a lot of space, but consciously giving yourself space for a moment can open doors to deeper self-knowledge and connection than ever before. The growth of self-knowledge and connection with yourself doesn’t happen in a hurry, but it does happen when you give it space, even for 5 -10 minutes at a time. You are worth it!
