5 Valuable Tools to Deepen Awareness and Crush Resistance
Are you struggling with resistance to transformation? Learn how to deepen your awareness and find the tools that will help you overcome your resistance. Click here to read more.
In a previous post, Overcoming Resistance in Transformation, we talked about how the ego can create resistance during transformation and the significance of relinquishing control. Change is the only constant in life, and the most effective way to embrace change is by following what resonates with our true selves.
Deepen Your Awareness
To deepen your awareness is to acknowledge what you were previously unaware of. For instance, you may see an opportunity for positive change and bring awareness to a particular issue through fundraising or speaking up about it. Similarly, when we raise our awareness to our resistance to transformation, we acknowledge that there is something within us that requires attention to bring about positive changes in our lives.
Often, we avoid reflecting on our mindset or behavior because we believe there are "more important things to do” or that “we are not the problem.” These misconceptions are holding us back from growth. Self reflection is not something we are used to when we are constantly looking outside of ourselves for more things to satisfy our current lifestyle. Instead of letting the outside circumstances change us, we can use tools to leverage our awareness so we can be truly ourselves.
In this article, I will share the tools that have worked best for me in my healing and growth.
1. Listen to Yourself
TALKING to yourself might make you feel crazy, but it's okay – we all do it! When I discovered this method for myself I was having a meltdown one day, mumbling my complaints under my breath when I remembered I used to casually talk to myself as a child. I embraced the conversation I was having with myself and discovered that the more I did it without judgment, the more aware I became of what was causing resistance in me and why I was upset.
If you're uncomfortable talking out loud, try TYPING out your conversations. This has helped me differentiate between the voices in my head, such as my ego or shadow self (inner child). The interaction will be different for everyone, but it's more important to focus on the problem and the solution. It's like brainstorming through conversation. Here's an example of how one of my conversations started:
2. Reflection in Relationships
Another way to increase self-awareness is to ask yourself, "What do I see in [name] and how can I learn from them?" This question is not meant to judge others but rather to recognize our own thought patterns and biases.
In essence, our inner state influences how we perceive the world, meaning that our view of others (be it positive or negative) is a reflection of ourselves.
This self-reflection can help us to recognize signs and triggers in our environment and improve our ability to navigate through life with greater awareness and insight.
3. Journaling
Take some time to write down your thoughts and feelings about a particular situation without judgment. You’ll notice with my newsletters, I also share my personal journal pages where I write my thoughts and draw pictures or diagrams!
Below are some prompts I’ve used to get you started. Identify any patterns or recurring themes that may indicate underlying resistance. Feel free to modify them or come up with your own prompts that resonate with you. The goal is to use journaling as a tool for self-reflection and gaining deeper awareness and understanding of yourself.
4. Look for Signs
Bringing awareness to the signs around me has been an important part of my spiritual journey since the Pivotal Events that started it all. It's a fun and fluid process, and signs are everywhere if you're looking for them.
If something catches your eye or you find yourself thinking about it, it's a sign for you. Take a moment to reflect on what it means to you in the moment, noting how it makes you feel or what thoughts come up. Trust that anything that triggers a feeling or message is a sign to help you overcome resistance.
5. Meditation
When it comes to building self-awareness, meditation is a valuable tool that requires time and practice to master. It's an accessible practice that can be done in any situation. Give yourself space to relax, and close your eyes to reduce distractions, even listening to ambient music if needed.
Focus on noticing when your thoughts shift from one to another.
If you're a visual learner, imagine your thoughts as clouds passing by. Try not to engage with any specific thought, let them pass by, and keep your focus on increasing self-awareness. If you notice any emotions or visuals, consider them as another form of thought and let them pass by as you ease into meditation.
It's normal to experience a lot of thoughts at first, so if you get sidetracked try counting up from 1 and restart the count every time you notice a new thought.
Once you get into a practice of consistent meditation, you will be able to identify your thoughts as the doorway to getting to the root of your resistance. You may find that meditation leads you to conversations with your shadow self, allowing you to address subconscious thoughts that might otherwise have control over your behavior. By acknowledging the subconscious thoughts that have been building up over time, you can make room for higher guidance and intuition.
Increasing your self-awareness can go any direction, so do what works best for YOU. I’ve found the most success with just starting somewhere, even if it doesn’t seem like anything. Use any setbacks or difficulties as an opportunity to learn and grow. TRUST THE PROCESS! I hope this article brought some awareness of the tools available to you and if you have any questions or want to share your experiences, don't hesitate to reach out!
Very insightful and actually useful practical advice, Thank you for taking the time to make this for us!