第三节
Find Yourself
Sometimes taking a step back from your daily routine and engaging in some self-reflection can help you make sense of your place in the world. To discover your true self — no matter where you are in your journey — try these techniques.
61 And realize you might not like what you see. It can be discouraging to realize you aren’t where you want to be in life, but don’t use that excuse to stay stuck where you are. Take ownership for the person you are. In this way, you can have a better understanding of yourself.
62 One reason you may feel you’re losing touch with yourself is that you’re too busy taking care of the needs of everyone else in your life. Keep a diary of the way you spend your time for a week. When you look at how your days are divided up, you might realize how little is left for you. So schedule time on your calendar to yourself with your passions. Go back to interests and activities you’ve neglected.
And take an hour a week just to think about your personal goals and how you will meet them.
63 Gretchen Rubin, author of The Happiness Project, seemed to be in the right place. The former editor-in-chief of the Yale Law Journal was now working for Justice Sandra Day O’Connor — a dream job she’d planned and worked hard for. Once she realized her real dream to be a writer, she left law. Today she’s a best-selling author of four books. “Take small, concrete steps in your daily life. And keep checking in with yourself each week to make sure you’re heading in the right direction.”
64 Who you surround yourself with is who you become. Find a person who is willing to give you advice as you start to switch things up in your life. If you don’t have a friend to fill that role, consult a professional. And no matter where you find your inspiration, be open to ideas, but listen to your own heart first and foremost.
65 And not the ones who’ve gotten used to your picking up their dirty socks. We mean helping those truly in need. Spend a few afternoons a week talking with seniors at an nursing home or handing out sandwiches at a soup kitchen. Something as simple as performing five random acts of kindness a week can improve your mood and your sense of well-being. And when you feel better about yourself, you’re more able to face new challenges on the road to self-fulfillment.