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By simply living our lives in pursuit of authentic self expression, we are exercising our innate creative power.
But what happens when the vision of our authentic selves becomes blurred due to external stimuli – distractions that influence our emotions and behaviours?
Too many external influences and distractions can drag us down and lead us away from our true selves. Without a strong knowing of who we are, we can lose connection with our intuition. We risk living on auto-pilot, going through the motions instead of making the most out of our time on Earth.
So how can we cultivate our self-identity in a modern age filled with distractions?
Let’s chat about it!
What is Self-Identity?
Look back at who you were 2 years, 5 years, and 10 years ago. Chances are, you’ve changed a lot. Your self-identity looked different at every stage. After all, our lives are a constant process of creation and self transformation.
Our self-identity is our awareness of who we are.
The act of knowing the self seems simple… but taking time to discover ourselves isn’t always encouraged in our society.
Since we were kids, we were taught what to do and how to behave. Be obedient, be polite, be likeable. Don’t disturb the peace.
Growing up, we learned that if we fit into the ‘acceptable’ box we draw less unwanted attention.
We want to be accepted, we crave to be loved – so we conform.
As we become adults, this manifests in the belief that there is one ‘right’ path to live our lives. Many of us plug away at this life thinking it’s what we want… when actually, we’re only conforming to what is ‘normal’ and we’ve long lost touch with who we really are.
Why is a Strong Self-Identity important?
Think back on a time in your life where you felt energetically low. Maybe it was a time when there were so many things pulling at your attention, your boundaries were weak, and you had a hard time saying no. Maybe you’re in that space right now.
When this is happening, so much of ourselves is taken away by external forces. So much of our attention is taken away by distractions. So much of our energy is used up for things we don’t really want to do.
We can tell when we’re in this space if we notice that we have weak boundaries, scattered priorities and trouble connecting with our own desires. We feel so disconnected from our Self-Identity, and staying too long here can lead to anxiety, lethargy and feelings of aimlessness.
On the other hand, when we get to know ourselves better and act aligned to our true selves, we develop confidence and ambition – drivers required to pursue greater possibilities in life.
When we have a strong self-identity, we have a clearer vision of who we are, what our unique gifts are, and what we want to accomplish. Having this vision can make the difference in how we choose to spend our time, aligning us on the right path toward our goals.
Cultivating our unique self-identity and understanding our strengths and weaknesses is the most important work we can do. By knowing ourselves better we are protected from the external influences that distract us from our goals. We can also develop a better relationship with ourselves, which in turn allows us to have better relationships with others – positively impacting our personal and business connections.
By having a strong self-identity, we can wake up each morning with intention, purpose, joy and peace.
Cultivate your Self-Identity with Creative Practices
Creative practices help us express our thoughts, feelings, and personality. In other words, creative expression helps us get to know ourselves better and cultivate a strong self-identity.
Having a creative outlet allows us to reconnect with our spirit, a peaceful relief from moments of anxiety.
Here are some of my favourite ways to practice creative self-expression:
Journaling & Morning Pages
I start every morning with my Morning Pages – a ritual taken from Julia Cameron’s book, The Artist’s Way.
Here’s how you can start. Every morning before the day begins, write three pages in your journal – no matter what.
It doesn’t have to be pretty – all you’re doing is taking those thoughts flying around in your mind and putting them on a piece of paper. Picture it like you’re freeing up memory in your computer by unloading files onto an external hard drive.
By writing nonstop until you hit 3 pages, you can externalize all the thoughts in your mind. Doing this can help you remember ideas, process emotions, and unload stress.
3 pages might sound like a lot, but try to take the pressure away from it. Try it stream of consciousness style – simply write down every word as it pops up in your brain. Even if it doesn’t make sense. Even if it doesn’t seem like a journal entry. Keep going. It will get easier.
Create Art
What art supplies do you have at home? Whether you have watercolours, acrylics, markers or crayons, get them out and play with no judgement. Put some music on and doodle with pencil crayons or markers. Or play with paint by mixing colours! It’s just for fun and there’s no one to impress. See what comes out!
Enjoy Music
Create a playlist of music that makes you feel something. Put it on loud, shut the blinds and have a solo ecstatic dance party! Sing along to the words out loud and activate that beautiful vocal self-expression.
Shake your body and move that stagnant energy.
Play Dress-Up
Celebrate your uniqueness and get to know your features. Do your hair and make-up as if you’re going out but enjoy the night for yourself or with your partner or a friend. Treat the “getting ready”process as a form of meditation and self-love. Then enjoy the night!
Get a Haircut
As a former hairstylist I always like to remind my friends and clients of the importance of scheduling in self- care dates like getting a haircut. Sometimes a fresh snip is what you need to feel like a refreshed, vibrant version of you!
Time to Fearlessly Create Yourself!
Never forget that just by showing up each day and shining your light you are in the act of creation, the perpetual self-transformation that happens as we live our lives.
I hope that this blog helped to give you ideas on how to feel more connected with yourself and create a stronger self-identity.
If you found the creative practices helpful, please feel free to share it on your Instagram stories and tag me! I’d love to see!