01 — Your challenges

No matter how big or small; at some point we all experience challenges. Some of which feel like they can knock the wind out of you. And others, well, we tend to minimize and try to brush off but it always creeps back up. The first step in this journey is being able to identify or at least put words to the trouble we have been having. "Hi my name is ___ and I struggle with ____".

02 — Your needs

What are the important things you need in life in order to thrive mentally, physically, spiritually, and emotionally? If you're familiar with Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, you understand that the bottom level of the pyramid references our need for Food, Water, and Rest. We need these items to stay alive and are the most basic of needs. However, there are many other levels above it and yet, some of us stop moving up the pyramid once we’ve obtained Safety (the next level up ). There are some of us out there who believe that if we have the basic necessities, then we shouldn’t need to want more. As if saying "I'm grateful to be alive" should be enough to sustain us long-term. While I love me some gratitude, it doesn’t mean we can’t strive or want for more. There are plenty of other needs on that pyramid and there are ways to keep climbing up. Not everyone needs to reach the top and experience a sense of “Self-Actualization”; but the goal is to at least reach your version of inner peace.

03 — Your self-discovery

You are familiar with your challenges and have been able to identify your needs. Now what? One way to work towards change is to see how you have been able to manage changes in the past. Everyone at some point has experienced a challenge that they were able to overcome on their own. Take a look at what worked for you and see how you can apply that to other challenges. There’s no reason to recreate the wheel if it works. This step really helps you identify and highlight your strengths. Take a moment to focus on what you do well in your life; and enjoy this small break from thinking of all that is going wrong. Even people with the lowest of self-esteems have amazing strengths hidden behind their insecurities. We just need to take a second to clear our mind of the negative clutter that is making it hard for us to “see” and believe it. Knowing your strengths is just the beginning of getting to know who you truly are and owning your truth.

04 — Your journey

Living your truth comes with hurdles but also some adventures. It’s a journey of self growth and this whole process is continuous. Since we are always evolving and growing, we need to constantly evaluate where we are in our journey and if we need to fine-tune some things. Sometimes we don’t realize we need some adjustments in our lives until it becomes a thorn poking at our side. Your story never ends at the end of a chapter. It just marks the beginning of a new journey that needs exploring.