Recently, I have been learning (through therapy, and experience alike) to start make friends with my inner world. I’ve never known the experience before of having a conversation with myself and it has been seriously valuable.
So, in July this month, I am using these two mantras in my inner work to focus on developing that listening inner atmosphere.
I listen to my inner world
This mantra is important to me because I’ve never listened to my inner voices before. They protect us and our bodies when we don’t take initiative on our inner life. Its been so cool to talk with my therapist, read books, and learn that I have a central inner hub and I am totally in control of making decisions and having boundaries even within my own inner world!
I love that so many people have been talking about and paying more attention to their inner child. I see posts on social media and hear talk in my mental health groups. It’s so important to show compassion and introduce play in our lives! Especially as the world keeps feeling heavier and heavier day after day.
The inner voices I have been working on listening to and making friends with are emotion, thought, and instinct. They are all there as tools and advice for us to listen to – but more often than not I have let one of these voices be either pushed aside or let them take over my inner world. I’m learning to listen to all three equally and then come to my own conclusion and make decisions in my own decision-making inner self.
Resources I’m currently learning from:
Boundaries for Your Soul: How to Turn Your Overwhelming Thoughts and Feelings into Your Greatest Allies by Alison Cook PhD & Kimberly Miller MTh LMFT
Tune In Wellness Journal: A Journal for Talking to Ourselves by ban.do x Taylor Elyse Morrison
The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron
I value my emotions
Specifically, I am working most intensely on making friends with my emotions. As an HSP, I often don’t trust my inner voices, but the strength of my emotions in particular means I often let my emotions take over my decision center. This means I am working on both identifying them, and learning what they are saying to me, while taking control and ownership of my decisions. For me, this includes practicing being present primarily, while using somatic techniques when I’m on the way towards overwhelmed or flooded emotions.
I oftentimes have to intentionally fight the feeling that my emotions are my enemy. Though I know emotions aren’t always telling me the truth, I have to remind myself that they are trying to communicate with me and protect me. That’s why they’re internal voices. They are there to tell us their perspective. For me, it’s oftentimes confusing when they disagree and tell me different things.
Because my emotions are so strong, I want to take ownership of them and make them my friend, while bringing them under my decision-making center. My second mantra this month helps me hone in on making friends with my emotions by getting present and using my focus. That’s the work of mantra work!
Resources I’m currently learning from:
Atlas of the Heart: Mapping Meaningful Connection and the Language of Human Experience by Brené Brown
Emotionally Healthy Spirituality: It’s Impossible to Be Spiritually Mature, While Remaining Emotionally Immature by Peter Scazzero
I hope these mantras speak to you in the same way they help me hold focus and get present! Enjoy these free lockscreens as a reminder many times a day – as I will be.
By the way, if you like these colors – get ready! Brilliant periwinkle alongside sage and mint greens are the inspiring colors for July! Thursdays post is FULL of Freebies celebrating this color palette, including a Procreate Palette!
You are cared for and have a place here at Aesthete Workshop! 💜
⇢ Where have you seen or created beauty in your life recently?
Love ya!
⇢ Amanda Margaret
AES·THETE /ˈesˌTHēt/ 