As women, we face a unique paradox in the world today.
On the one hand, we have more opportunities than ever before. Women are free to choose and to do and to be what they want in ways our predecessors only dreamed of. As a result, we have an extraordinarily wide variety of options available to us, which can be both exciting and empowering.
On the other hand, however, this power to choose can also be terrifying. With so many different paths available, many women are left feeling uncertain and unable to move forward.
If you're feeling unsure of yourself and who you are, take a look around, and you will find countless others who feel the same.
But what can you do about it?
Strengthening Your Internal Alignment
The key to unlocking peace and discovering certainty is a strong internal alignment.
When you know who you are and what you stand for, facing the challenges of everyday life becomes easier. As you develop greater confidence in yourself, you will find you can take on difficulties and choices with greater surety.
Yet, how do we find this internal alignment?
For most women, a strong sense of self is created and developed—not just inherently given. Strengthening our internal alignments takes time and practice.
Below, we'll discuss five ways to develop greater internal alignment in more detail.
1. Recognize you are struggling with uncertainty
The first step toward developing your internal alignment is recognizing that you are currently struggling. It may sound simple, but you cannot fix a problem you refuse to acknowledge.
Women who successfully develop a greater sense of self are those who actively choose to work toward happiness and clarity. Recognize your struggle, accept it for what it is, and commit to moving forward and making changes.
2. Begin to practice self-compassion
Now that you have committed to change, the real work begins!
As women, we are notoriously critical of ourselves—often using unkind words to describe the way we look, think, and feel. However, strong internal alignment cannot exist alongside self-hatred and self-doubt.
The next step toward success is beginning to practice self-care and self-kindness. Each day, work on finding compassion for the person staring back at you in the mirror. Try to take the view that you have always been doing your best. At any given time, you cannot be more than you are. It’s easy to look back and be critical but the past is the past. As your cruel thoughts and self-doubts soften, your ability to experience peace and clarity will grow.
3. Find or re-discover what matters most
With the initial steps behind you, it is time to look to the future.
For most women, this means finding or rediscovering our passions, purposes and our truth. Our culture may have certain ideals or expectations that we feel pressured to conform to, but what really matters is our own personal developments.
To have a secure internal alignment, you must understand who you are, what you believe in, and what you are working toward. Exploring hobbies or passions, looking for what excites can give you greater insight into who you want to become.
4. Develop a clear self-identity
As women, many of us struggle to exist in our own stories. Perhaps we are largely seen as someone’s wife, mother, daughter, coworker, caretaker, or friend.
To achieve greater internal alignment, however, you must develop a clear sense of self-identity and recognize who you are outside of anyone else. This confidence often comes only after you have learned to appreciate yourself and have begun working toward your hopes and goals.
5. Utilize outside support
One of the greatest networks in the world is available to us each and every day: the strength of other women. So many others are journeying on the same path to discover their worth and achieve greater internal alignment. We do not ever need to walk the path alone!
So, utilize outside support in any way you can and ask others for strength as you work to better your physical, mental, and spiritual health. A group of confident, self-assured women working together to achieve their goals is an extremely powerful force.
With work and dedication, achieving greater internal alignment is possible. If you are struggling, women’s counseling can help you reclaim your life and develop your own personal identity. Why not call my Denver, CO, office to learn more