Unlock the Power of Self-Discovery
I’m happy you chose to read this today, and doing so might just change things….if you are open.
How can we become our best selves?
That’s what we’re asked to focus on in this season of self-reflection.
As with anything worth undertaking, the process involves a bit of time. Nothing, except maybe coffee, is instant. Even oatmeal is mislabeled! I challenge anyone to really enjoy the teaste of a bowl of oatmeal after just a slight stir of the boiling water.
But enough about sustenance of that sort.
I want to let you know about a different type of sustenance, the type that will nourish and sustain you past a snack or a meal.
Ready? Let’s explore the process of learning about ourselves from a Jewish perspective.
What we’re supposed to be engaged in during this time of year is Teshuva [Tav, Shin, Vov, Vet, Hei] which is often translated as Repentance. [I don’t know about you, but this word always sounds a bit medieval to me].
Well, the literal translation of the Hebrew word is not that. The root of the word Teshuva is Shuv [Shin, Vov, Vet] so the literal and also the spiritual meaning is Return.
Rabbi Yitzchok Fingerer asks a great question. What are you returning to? He responds with the idea that you are returning to your essence, to your pristine core, to your pure soul. In Judaism, we believe that each one of us is holy and pure, and when we do teshuva, we return to the purity, to the essence and holiness of who we really are.
In that way, we are accessing our truest self without the baggage, without the stuff that usually clouds our judgment {read, ego}. Our pure self is generous and kind. Open-hearted. Forgiving. But the business of life muddies those waters quite a bit.
So, how do we get in touch with that part of ourselves….a part that perhaps has been hidden for quite some time.
Well, ironically, in modern Hebrew, the word Teshuva also means answer, reply, or response.
So, what we can understand from that is there is an exchange, the process of returning will supply us answers in response to our questions.
And for that next step, I want to discuss the practice of journaling.
Journaling is not keeping a diary.
Instead, it’s like talking out loud to yourself but not censoring yourself. You can write about your day, your feelings, a question you have, the gratitude you experience…literally anything. Allow your writing to be free. Take time to express yourself.
But without self-criticism. Keep objective.
In my experience with coaching people who are involved in a process of change, journaling is the one practice that most people resist.
Yet, it’s a documented fact that journaling is incredibly powerful.
Research tells us that journaling helps accept rather than judge our mental experiences, which results in fewer negative responses to stress.
In 2022 a study by Sohal, Singh, Dhillon & Gill demonstrated that time spent journaling about our deepest thoughts and feelings can even reduce the number of sick days people take off work.
We also know that the process of journaling lowers blood pressure, improves the function of our organs even, and reduces stress and improves psychological well-being!
So, with all this, I'm not sure why we resist the practice of journaling so much.
For me, a resolute journaler (is that a word?), it is still not so easy to face a blank page, even after many years of writing.
I also find it challenging because my practice is not very regular. What I’d like to work on is changing that, and making it more of a habitual practice.
So what is holding you back? Because the only one who will read what you write is YOU.
AND you can tear it up the second you finish writing if you like. You’re the one in charge.
You can see how it goes after you try it a bit.
Think of how you might take one tiny, small step, towards this goal of self-discovery.
If you want, you can choose to focus on your interactions with others, on moments of awe you experienced…anything.
Invoke the NIKE in you….
Just commit to doing it.
The little bit you do will imprint on your soul.