Photo © nodie26 on Flickr

I am emotionally intelligent. Sure, I know a little bit about a lot of other things, but I feel most grateful for my emotional awareness. It’s this intelligence, in particular, that enables me to navigate the relationships with my self, and others, through this lifetime.

We are here to learn and grow
Many say ‘enlightenment’ is the goal, and whether you resonate with that or not, you have probably figured out by now that we will consistently be faced with challenges and opportunities for growth in our lives. The one, supremely important, constant in that equation? Our relationship to our selves and our bodies.

To thine own self be true
Getting to know yourself – truly and without (or as little) self-deception as possible – is the #1 greatest give you can give to the world. On the outset that may sound selfish, and can often entrap some in a spiral of self-absorbtion, but getting to know yourself and your body really well is the healthiest and most ‘enlightened’ goal, if you ask me.

Knowing yourself helps you:

• set boundaries: with others, with yourself. Bosses, parents, lovers, children, pets, friends, strangers. It’s important!
• discover your true gifts/passions/desires/skills.
• be humble.

Humility
There’s a humbling self-acceptance in getting to know yourself and peeling back all the layers to get to the very bottom. In fact I think ACCEPTANCE is possible, and is the ultimate goal. Which goes hand-in-hand with an even more heart-centered word: Compassion. *sigh* If only the world could be slipped some compassion in their Wheaties, huh? Let’s not get stronger to fight harder, let’s get stronger within ourselves and our hearts to not let ego and illusion fog our perception of what’s really going on. Yes, indeed, this world needs more love and compassion… as much as each & every one of us can muster. And it all starts with ourselves.

The more you get to know yourself, the more you realize two things:

• You are unique.
• You are just like everybody else.

Like I said, it’s humbling!

This is the thing, being unique isn’t about #1 at the top of a mountain or being this one person in a crowd that stands alone. Nope. It’s about recognizing that without ego or disillusion, that your presence in the short 5-100 year blip you are in existence physically on this plane, is an opportunity to add to the collective. Collective love, intelligence, innovation, awareness, happiness, joy, discovery and evolution.

Somatic Awareness
One of the biggest gifts I have discovered in getting to know myself, is how incredibly KEY it is for me to stay connected to my body. After years of disconnecting or abandoning my body, and recognizing how that effected every other part of my life, I’m now much more aware of the signs. I am getting better at noticing and making time and space to reconnect. My connection with my body is absolutely essential for me in sustaining the flow of creativity.

As I’ve mentioned before, in January I started an amazing yoga practice in my home: Marianne Elliott’s 30 Days of Yoga. Doing this practice a few times a week really transformed me. I’ve done a lot of different exercise in my life, but having this ritual – and even on the days I didn’t do it, simply having the intention – to make time to connect with my body every day was really life changing. Simply starting with intention, you can really transform the relationship with your self and your body, and over time, watch it  grow and blossom in ways you’d never have expected.

“A good intention is one that is deeply grounded in your current situation and state – founded in what you need rather than any abstract ideas about what you ‘should’ be doing. It’s about starting from where you are.” – Marianne Elliott

Love yourself. Accept yourself. Give yourself the time and space to connect to what makes you happy. Namaste.