Stepping into my Higher Self

A new month is upon us, a season is nearing its end , and we are more than halfway through the year. I haven’t spent as much time with my journal lately, my days quickly filling up with work and home tasks, social outings and a lot of travel. Still, I have set aside some time this evening (a Thursday) to reflect on the intentions that I set for 2022, how I have progressed towards living out these intentions, and to consider  whether these intentions align with my current stage of life. As I engage in this introspection, the term “Higher Self” and its application to my own life is something that I am turning over in my mind. 

I have mentioned the term “Higher Self” in my writings before. But what does this really mean? The Higher Self Yoga organization defines Higher Self as “our wise inner being; a calm, loving and spiritual guide that brings our positive characteristics to the surface and tasks us with questioning our lower nature.” I think that sounds lovely. I imagine myself living from my Higher Self – so present, so centered, a compassionate woman who is connected to her intuition and leading a life of true purpose and alignment. 

As I move through August, and the last four months of this year, this is the woman I aspire to show up as. So many of my intentions for this year were, and continue to be, those that move me closer to this “Higher Self”. Intentions like, tapping into the innate wisdom of my body instead of always abiding the restrictions of my mind; spending a significant amount of time in nature and seeing nature as a spiritual source; building a community that feels warm and supportive. All of these intentions are focused upon  dreams for my life that are birthed from that place of inner knowing. 

The question I am now left pondering is, “How do I tap into the energy of this Higher Self?”  I want to connect with her each day, for this is what it means to actually live from the Higher Self. But how? 

Many others have asked this question before me, seeking to answer it and provide guidance to other wandering, wondering, souls. From my own reading, five specific practices stood out to me. Five rituals and routines that I could implement into my days that I feel would provide me with the connection I seek. 

Meditation 

Meditation is a training of the mind. Thoughts move in and out of our head all day, some more intrusive than others. Meditation requires us not to stop those thoughts but to instead notice them and then return to focus our consciousness on one particular thought, object or activity. Through regular meditation one becomes more mentally clear, emotionally calm and increasingly stable. It is from this state that I find I am better able to hear that wise inner voice. It is then that I am able to recognize what it is that I need and act accordingly. 

Listening to my Intuition

Once I have mediated and am more receptive to what my Higher Self has to say, it is important that I *listen*. So often, even though the answer is within me, I find myself reaching out for the opinion or advice of others. It is difficult for me to trust in what I know. To connect with my Higher Self, this is a muscle I must work to strengthen. 

Nature

Nature is healing. I think most of us can agree on that. I never leave time spent outside and think, “Wow, I wish I hadn’t done that.” No, I always feel better when I am out amongst the trees, meandering up a mountain trail, or sitting on a beach shore watching ocean waves come crashing in. Amongst the greenery and bright wildflowers, my focus sharpens and what I really yearn for becomes more identifiable. I leave my time beside Mother Earth with a better sense of how to move forward and shine my own light. 

Positive Thoughts & Speech

I have written about this before, so I will keep it brief. We must monitor the thoughts and words that we nurture, especially those directed towards ourselves. To develop and grow into our Highest Self, we must think and speak as our Highest Self would. I doubt she’d be berating her body, admonishing her lack of task completion, or gossiping about the neighbors next door. 

Journaling

And last, I come full circle with the art of journaling – my form of self-reflection and the practice that this blog stems from. My journal is where my most authentic, vulnerable, raw voice comes through. With words poured on a page, I learn so much about myself – my hopes, my dreams, my fears and my anxieties. It is through this that I can take action. When I write the same thing day in and day out, I tire of my own complaints and this prompts me to create change – change that leads me closer to living from my  Higher Self. 

With the second week of August now underway, these practices will be at the top of my daily list, for without them my vision becomes blurry, my focus dulled and I find myself a bit lost. Meditation. Listening to my intuition. Time in nature. Positive thoughts and speech. Journaling. These I will prioritize as I attempt to move closer to the wise woman whose fire burns within. 

And you, will you too seek connection with your Highest Self? How will you contact the inner being who radiates calm and love, who guides you to live out your positive characteristics? Perhaps some of the practices that I mentioned above speak to you. Or maybe you have ideas of your own. With just a few months left in this year, I encourage you to give yourself time to reflect. How will you connect with your Higher Self so as to inhabit that space more regularly? 
I will leave you with some words from one of my favorites, Deepak Chopra, “When you contact the Higher Self, the source of power within, you tap into a reservoir of infinite power.”