5 Ways to Forge a Deeper Connection With Yourself

Ready to deepen your level of self-awareness, but unsure where to begin?

Try these five self-discovery exercises for clarity and guidance. 

Check in with yourself daily

Get in the habit of asking yourself: what do I need today? What do I need right now?

It can be tempting to shelve your needs for a more “convenient” time but shelving those unmet needs only creates more problems down the track.

Listen to your body and find practical ways to address your needs as and when they surface

Create a self-care checklist

Create a personalised checklist for managing difficult emotions, like stress, exhaustion and sadness.

For the purpose of this exercise, avoid adding activities you haven’t tried before. The purpose of each checklist is to equip you with the confidence to care for yourself when you are most vulnerable. It can also help you avoid falling back on bad habits that don't serve you.

Think about practical activities and rituals that have worked well for you in the past and write them down. The act of writing it down is already helping you remember what to do when you’re feeling vulnerable.

We also recommend keeping this checklist accessible to you so you can refer back to it as often as you need. 

Reframe your self-talk by channeling your inner coach

Write down your limiting thoughts and beliefs. For each unhelpful thought, write a kind, compassionate and empowering response. Think about the words you would say to a loved one to instill courage and confidence.

Discover your core values

Core values are guiding principles that give your life meaning and direction. They reflect what is most important to you, clarify what is right and wrong, what is good and bad, and provide guidelines for living a fulfilling life. Think of it as your internal compass.

When you can clearly articulate your core values, it becomes easier to prioritise what’s important, make difficult decisions and build stronger relationships.

You’re more likely to trust your decisions than second-guess your every move. It also reduces the potential of regret and internal conflict which tends to happen when your actions aren’t aligned with your values.

Keep a journal of your thoughts and reflections

Aristotle once said “knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom”. Whether you are writing down your thoughts as they surface or using prompts for a guided reflection, remember to stay curious on this journey of self-discovery.

Allow your thoughts to flow freely without judgment.

When you have a deeper understanding of who you are, what’s important to you, what drives you and the choices you make, you have the insight and wisdom to tweak your routines and make better decisions that feel more aligned to you.