Trust yourself, love yourself, focus on yourself. We're all told these throughout our lives for many different purposes. A lot of the time, these things are said out of defense. Maybe you're going through a break-up currently and everyone's grand input is, "focus on yourself." But what actually happens when we focus on ourselves?
For the grand majority of us, we have never truly taken a shot at focusing on ourselves. It's intense and uncomfortable to say the least; especially when you've never attempted it before. There's a learning curve to focusing on you, but I've pretty much got it down to a science. Allow me to share!
I'm going to say the word that everybody dreads, but it's truly the fast lane to understanding yourself; meditation.
What is meditation? How do I know I'm doing it right? What is the purpose? This is stupid!
Meditation is one of those things where the first time you try it, you don't get it. Kind of like smoking weed. The first time you get high, you claim you're not high. Until hours have passed that feel like seconds or days depending on the strain (there's always a time warp involved) and you realize you remember absolutely nothing. So, you think, what is the point of that? I don't feel high, I don't know how time works anymore, and I can't remember anything. Meditating for the first time is like that. It just doesn't hit right. And you convince yourself you've done it wrong, or it's just not for you. This is totally normal!
As with weed, my advice is to try again almost immediately. Don't resign to letting yourself be stumped by this! This is your happy place; your quiet space. This is the place you can go to on the drop of a dime - if you've figured it out - to calm yourself down or reset. What a superpower to have in stressful situations!
So how do we unlock this magical world in order to seamlessly slip into our peace? I would suggest starting with some sort of guided meditation to begin. There are plenty to be found for free on YouTube, but my personal favorite is an app called Headspace. It's not entirely free but it is really superb at getting you in the right mindset.
The easiest way to reach your higher self is through meditation; you don't need anything but yourself! Some of you may be in contact with your higher selves already and not even know it! Have you ever had a moment where the answer to something "just came to you" and you have no idea where from? Maybe someone asked you a question and without thinking you blurted out something that seems right, but you're not actually sure. Either way, the person totally believes you because your argument is pretty sound. You even believe you!
In these little moments, we can thank our higher selves. Our higher selves swoop in when we need them in order to understand the lessons our souls need learning from. They interject in moments where added strength is needed. And when it's not? They hangout upstairs until you need them again. So who is our higher self and why do we need them?
Well, we don't! Not totally! If you're perfectly happy wandering the planet aimlessly for the sole purpose of enjoyment, carry on. If you're here for a purpose and you want to find that purpose? Tap into your higher self.
The higher self is you. It's the you that you know today. It's the you that you were in your youth, it's the you that you will be in the future. It's the you that has lived every single one of your lives and has all the information on them and on you in them. Your higher self not only knows all the moving pieces, but is in possession of them.
Part of being on planet Earth is accepting that you are a student of the world. You are constantly learning. And it's all for a purpose! To evolve your soul; to grow! The higher self has all the deets on everything "you" in all of your lives. They know what lessons you've learned, what lessons you're still learning, what soul contracts you're currently under, and what your karma looks like.
The record of all of your past lives that the higher self is in possession of is called the Akashic Records. Through meditation in a past life regression, you can access these records to learn more about your past and how it affects your present.
In a past life regression of mine, I was able to identify a pattern of behavior in my past lives that certainly affects me in this current life. Through meditation I was able to break the contract binding me to this certain fate in order to heal, grow, and move on.
It's important for us to understand our pasts in order to move forward. We say that childhood plays a huge role in shaping us as adults. Imagine how you are shaped as a human in this life according to all your past lives! It's a big deal!
Connecting with our higher selves not only builds a deep trust in ourselves that we so desperately need, it gives us insight on how we work or why we maybe don't in some areas. Whenever I'm uncertain about something, I go into meditation and consult with my higher self. I always leave feeling much better with much more clarity.
So, what does it feel like and how do we know we're talking to our higher selves?
It feels like talking to yourself. It feels extremely silly. But that's literally what it is. You are talking to yourself! Just a much wiser, more traversed version of yourself. And this will be evident in the insight you gather during your conversations.
For example, once upon a time, I had learned that - after a certain trauma in my life - I locked up my inner child and abandoned her. It was a message that came to me in meditation. I hadn't asked about my inner child, I was simply doing my morning meditation when pain seared in my left chest.
I had noticed that; typically, certain things that brought me sadness would hit me in that spot in my chest. I got curious without questioning it verbally and a memory began playing. A memory I had long since lost somewhere in my subconscious. And the memory was of myself at age 18 crying. In the end, I decide to punish myself by toughening up. That is what I had decided. To be an adult about it. I remember making that decision. Deciding to be mature. To let go of my silliness because it just gets me in trouble.
Did I know at the time that I was punishing my inner child and locking her away? Absolutely not. But the truth of that moment was clear as day. I then meditated on unlocking her and letting her out through visualization and we chatted. She had a lot of shame. And I realized, that pain I would feel in my chest? It was my shame. She held onto it all by herself, all alone, hidden inside my left chest.
Now, how would I know all of that? I simply wouldn't without my higher self or spirit guides and guardian angels. I was able to have a serious chat with myself about my own healing and it did wonders for me.
You too have this ability! Maybe you already talk to yourself a bit. Have you ever considered that it's your higher self responding? Think of that time you were mumbling away to yourself when inspiration struck. Those inspiring insights are coming from you, of course, but is it you or your higher self? Is it both of you together? It's all of the above! The answer is yes!
Next time someone imparts upon you the timeless and classic advice of, "focus on yourself," actually try it! Go into meditation, get in the right headspace, and ask yourself all those hard hitting questions. You may be surprised at what you get back!
Didn't know you were so wise now, did you? ;)
xoxo,
Tallulah
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