Keeping Our Center ~ Day 18

“Know thyself.”

A form of this phrase can be traced back to Ancient Egypt. We could analyze it from a philosophical, psychological, or theological standpoint. Today, however, I’d simply like to be practical.

I’m encouraging you to “know thyself” so that you come out of these days of isolation with relationships and sanity intact, and perhaps some spiritual growth thrown in for good measure. Know thyself… as in be aware of what you are feeling, why you are feeling it, and how you are behaving because of it. Are you getting bored and irritable? Do you have cabin fever? Do you feel down or lonely? Are you feeling pretty calm and at peace? You get the idea.

Now, if you’re calm and peaceful, that’s excellent! Most of those other things have the potential to negatively affect the people you are with EVEN IF you try and hide it. There is an energy to our emotions that can be sensed, especially by people close to us. So, communicate how you are feeling! If you don’t name and claim it, you risk hurting and/or confusing others by your behaviors or repressed emotions.

Once you are aware of what is going on with you and you own it, then the trick is to determine what you need to do to regain a sense of balance and doing-ok-ness. Do you need space, or do you need to talk? Sometimes I need to journal, or do something physical (walking, biking, working outside), or play the piano to get out of a funk. Reaching out to someone else often helps get us out of our own stuff. I like projects, too, like cookie baking, or painting a room, or doing something creative. What works for you?

Since awareness is an important part of our spirituality, this process is nothing short of a spiritual discipline. Know thyself… and good luck!

Love & Light!

Kaye