Every notice how a little kid trusts himself unquentioningly? He decides to do something and then he just does it. No questions asked. This seems to change, though, as kids get older. Once they enter school, they must learn to sit still at their desks when they really want to go outside and play. They learn restraint. Their natural rhythms and instincts get quieted until they have a hard time hearing them. As teens, children rely on their culture, religious leaders, parents, and teachers to identify what is right and what is wrong; who they should...or shouldn't...become.
As we enter adulthood, we learn that we should trust our "gut" and follow our instinct. But how can we do that when, throughout our formative years, we've learned to turn down the volume of our inner voice? The good news is that it's never too late to learn to trust yourself; to create the kind of self that you (and others) are happy to live with. Here are a few ways you can increase your self-trust. It begins with learning to dip your toe in the water.
1. Bring awareness to what you are thinking and feeling...not just what you are doing.
2. Take time to listen to the signals your physical body is sending. If you can name them, that is even more helpful. Ask yourself if it is pain, tension, anger, fear, etc.
3. If you begin to doubt your instinct, take some time to process what you are feeling; slow down and take time to move toward emotons or sensations in your body. Do they feel good or bad?
4. Remember that one poor choice doesn't mean that all your choices will be bad.
5. Do you respect the opinion of other...your family, freinds, experts, etc? Then why not learn to respect your own opinion. No no knoes what's better for you, than you!
6. Always listen to others with an open mind. Have your own opinion. Your opinion counts as much as anyone's...maybe more!
7. What you would you advise someone else to do; someone in the same situation as you? If you'd offer that adive to another, why isn't it good enough for yourself?
9. Do your research. Find eviedence to support your belief that you can and DO make good choices. Then, be grateful when you do trust yourself with a successful outcome. The more gratitude you have, the more you will have to be grateful for.
10. Do you love yourself? It's not easy to trust the opinion and advice of someone you don't like. Make a list of the the things you do like about yourself and celebrate them. Add to the list, as often you can, and watch with pride as is grows and grows.
11. And when you do make a mistake, as we all do from time-to-time, show yourself the same empathy that you would show others.
After a lifetime of learning to not trust yourself...of listening to others...learning self-trust won't come quickly...or easily. Very few of us are able to "jump right in" at first. It's a bit like learning to swim. First, you must start with dipping your toe in the water then, you move on to water wings...
But, like with everything else, self-trust will come with time, patience, and practice. So come on in! The water of self-trust feels just fine!
As we enter adulthood, we learn that we should trust our "gut" and follow our instinct. But how can we do that when, throughout our formative years, we've learned to turn down the volume of our inner voice? The good news is that it's never too late to learn to trust yourself; to create the kind of self that you (and others) are happy to live with. Here are a few ways you can increase your self-trust. It begins with learning to dip your toe in the water.
1. Bring awareness to what you are thinking and feeling...not just what you are doing.
2. Take time to listen to the signals your physical body is sending. If you can name them, that is even more helpful. Ask yourself if it is pain, tension, anger, fear, etc.
3. If you begin to doubt your instinct, take some time to process what you are feeling; slow down and take time to move toward emotons or sensations in your body. Do they feel good or bad?
4. Remember that one poor choice doesn't mean that all your choices will be bad.
5. Do you respect the opinion of other...your family, freinds, experts, etc? Then why not learn to respect your own opinion. No no knoes what's better for you, than you!
6. Always listen to others with an open mind. Have your own opinion. Your opinion counts as much as anyone's...maybe more!
7. What you would you advise someone else to do; someone in the same situation as you? If you'd offer that adive to another, why isn't it good enough for yourself?
9. Do your research. Find eviedence to support your belief that you can and DO make good choices. Then, be grateful when you do trust yourself with a successful outcome. The more gratitude you have, the more you will have to be grateful for.
10. Do you love yourself? It's not easy to trust the opinion and advice of someone you don't like. Make a list of the the things you do like about yourself and celebrate them. Add to the list, as often you can, and watch with pride as is grows and grows.
11. And when you do make a mistake, as we all do from time-to-time, show yourself the same empathy that you would show others.
After a lifetime of learning to not trust yourself...of listening to others...learning self-trust won't come quickly...or easily. Very few of us are able to "jump right in" at first. It's a bit like learning to swim. First, you must start with dipping your toe in the water then, you move on to water wings...
But, like with everything else, self-trust will come with time, patience, and practice. So come on in! The water of self-trust feels just fine!
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