A strong understanding of identity and abilities, are powerful tools to maintain healthy living. Our roles and needs change in different seasons of life—requiring a reevaluation for overall well-being and healthy involvement to the community around us. Do you have a healthy sense of self for the current season of life? How do you describe characteristics of your identity to others? What tools do you use to explore your identity, and then permit others to know about you?
We have a spectrum of feelings and needs coming out of the pandemic. As we work to build resiliency and healthy emotional expression, we must also reestablish ways to achieve our fullest potential and amidst changing societal structures. Create opportunities to rediscover yourself and determine a holistic study of self, interests, and abilities. An in-depth inventory includes the following key areas: social, emotional, spiritual/religious, occupational, intellectual, physical, and environmental. Thoughtful time to investigate yourself and tools that directly speak to your identity, care for your needs; are key to sustaining healthy living long term.
Thoughtful evaluation of self and abilities, allow for full engagement of daily responsibilities and with people in the community around us. Consider the following prompts: What are my strengths? What I am grateful for? Qualities I have that enable me to survive anything? What/who makes me laugh (or angry)? Who do I need to forgive? What I love about my body? People who made an impression on me and why? What I know to be true? What makes me feel peaceful? Do I have positive relationships in my life? Do I allow trusted people to speak respectfully into my life? Am I able to see my friend’s/family members at a level I feel comfortable with? Questions such as these, allow us to reflect on healthy characteristics that we have in place, or alert us to unhealthy, even toxic, elements to remove from our life.
What are my strengths? What I am grateful for? Qualities I have that enable me to survive anything? What/who makes me laugh (or angry)? Who do I need to forgive? What I love about my body?
Self-reflection permits us to regulate and build awareness of who we are in different seasons of life—and note changes needed. We may determine a new hobby is needed, or, we may find a professional is needed to guide us through specific things outside of our current abilities. Are you finding ways to express and accept your feelings? Do you have healthy coping skills? Mental health support is a growing need following the pandemic and offers space for individuals to identify threats to safety, problem behaviors, stability and ability to keep healthy relationships. Regardless of age or season in life, seasonal self-discovery rhythms are important to formulate and may need adjusting, in order to remain preventative and avoid unhealthy habits.
As you reflect, note the things that put your identity in jeopardy and find ways to be gracious to self. Give yourself permission to focus on certain areas of life throughout the year. This kindness allows you to meet personal needs, learn healthy ways to make changes, instill and protect life goals—at a reasonable pace. Take advantage of professionals and/or support programs, to guarantee complete self-discovery and success for your fullest potential.