Discovering You

The more I know of myself, the less I crave the approval of others.

For the last year or so, I have been dealing with a bad case of burnout. After stepping away from 35+ years of entrepreneurship, I started journaling, blogging, exercising, and having a quiet and prayerful time, and it is all helping.

Having found myself increasingly frustrated with decision-making, even the smallest ones. I used to thrive on the process, treating each decision like a game of tennis, metaphorically speaking, constantly going back and forth. However, that enjoyment gradually diminished as I started to feel the burnout.

Eventually, I reached a point where my passion for the game faded away, and as a result, I began to feel trapped in an oppressive fog.

I felt no sense of accomplishment and wasn’t sure who I was anymore; consequently, my wife and I sold the company and are beginning Act Three now.

Ralph Waldo Emerson's words speak wisdom: "To be yourself in a world constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment."

Authenticity, often overshadowed by conformity, holds the key to fulfillment. It demands courage to defy societal expectations. When authentic, we feel better about ourselves by unlocking our true potential and inspiring others to embrace their uniqueness and passions.

Being on the path to authenticity is challenging. Listening to the “still small voice” encourages and grants freedom to express ourselves and live in alignment with our values.

I find blogging, as well as journaling, to be a powerful tool for self-discovery. Regularly writing down thoughts, feelings, and experiences creates a space for self-reflection and exploration.

Trying to excel uniquely through writing is intimidating but exciting. Discovering new things about the world and yourself is the reward for accepting the challenge.

In her book The Miracle of Morning Pages, Julia Cameron recommends, before starting your day, to sit with pen and paper and write three pages of whatever comes to mind. Perhaps never to be viewed again; you might even want to burn the page immediately upon completion.

Longhand pages give us detail and the truth of how we feel emotionally. Accuracy is what we are after, not velocity. Longhand pages tell us precisely how we feel. These feelings may be uncomfortable, but they are ours. We name them and claim them. No longer ignored or obscured, they can be faced squarely. Once faced, they can no longer sabotage us. We find ourselves acting rather than acting out. - Julia Cameron, The Miracle of Morning Pages

Journaling allows for uninhibited self-expression unlocking clarity and self-understanding, and providing an emotional outlet. And I find it to be a brainstorming tool clarifying challenges and decisions needing to be made. Starting to write out our bucket list clarifies our desires and moves us to live more intentionally.

There are no strict rules for journaling—personalize it to your needs. Embrace honesty, openness, and non-judgment as you explore your thoughts and emotions, harnessing the transformative potential of this practice.

Peter Rukavina, a friend who, I believe, is one of the best journalers I know. He pretty well shares all online and has done so for many years. Take a peek at Peter’s blog at www.ruk.ca.