Who are you, really? Can you remember? Who you are today is much different than who you were five, ten or even twenty years ago. Your views on life change through your life experiences and you begin to shape into a different version of yourself with every label that gets added: Wife/Husband, Mother/Father, Sister/Brother, or Daughter/Son. With each label comes a different set of responsibilities and expectations from others. But, do you remember who you really are without those labels or have you lost that part of yourself along the way?
It is very easy to be consumed by the label that you are primarily living in any given moment. When you are a wife or husband, you are focused on the attentions of your spouse and your love relationship. Change hats, and you become the mother or father and you are focused on your children and their upbringing, safety, security, and wellbeing. When does “your” time come? Do you find the time to nurture and take care of yourself or do you feel guilty for even thinking such thoughts?
Taking care of and nurturing yourself is just as important as the care and nurturing of all the other relationships you have in your life. Take time to connect with your inner-self every day. Every morning, upon waking, give thanks for the blessings in your life and do a five to ten-minute meditation. It will ground you and prepare you for the day and the stress that will accompany it.
Write down your hopes and your dreams, even if they seem like a far-off reality or even an impossible reality. Allow this to be an evolving list that changes as your desires and wishes change. Don’t allow your dreams to disappear. Every night, before bed, read your list and remind yourself of your dreams. It is totally possible to complete all the responsibilities that come with each label in life and still stay true to yourself.
