Social media has made ‘checking in’ so easy. It’s just something that we do now. It is the social norm. We check in when we go out to eat, or to the salon or just about anywhere. But how often do we take the time to check in with ourselves?
How often do we go through our days feeling sad or angry or dejected and never think to check in with ourselves as to how we are feeling and why? Checking in with myself is something that I am learning to do. I recently started therapy and my therapist has been teaching me to focus on my breathing and do a body scan. A body scan is basically taking your focus to each area of your body and noticing how you are feeling physically, mentally and spiritually in each area.
I have found this practice to be very helpful. I am learning where my body feels different emotions – like stress, anxiety or acceptance. It is interesting to notice how for each emotion – I can physically feel it somewhere in my body! God really put some thought into our existence.
Part of checking in with myself is looking to see patterns. What choices did I make that led me to feeling this way? What can I control about this situation? Is this a feeling I want to repeat? I also try to check in with myself before I make decisions – how will I feel about this later? This helps keep me from putting myself into situations where I later feel negatively about myself.
Journaling is a great way to check in with myself, watch for patterns and think through decisions. I am definitely not perfect, or even close. But that is the beauty of life and learning – we get the chance to grow and change every single day! I want to be a better person every day than I was the day before.
In the hustle and bustle of day to day life, don’t forget to pay attention to your most important asset – YOU!
Xo, Jorjia