Self-realizations and the tools that guide me through them

Hi there!

Thank you for joining me on my personal journey of growth and self-discovery. I am grateful for the space to share so openly. I’m at a pivotal point where I’ve made new self-realizations and have a greater understanding of what I truly want in life, but now I’m asking, “What do I do next?”

Self-realization is a beautiful and scary thing. With awareness comes the added weight of making the necessary changes and putting things into daily practice. But one of my favorite Maya Angelou quotes comes to mind and gives me all the motivation I need - “When you know better, you do better.” It’s not just about knowing that things have to change (which is the scary and HUGE first step),  it’s about actually doing the changes.

For me, going through this process had me needing tools to set me up for success and give me the perspective I needed to keep me focused and grounded. Once I opened the door to awareness, I also somehow opened the door  to doubt and fear.  Through these lessons I uncovered some deeply rooted issues and emotions that were overwhelming at times. Navigating through this and understanding what it I’m I was feeling at every step of the way became daunting, and I immediately found guidance from 2 particular books.

The first was “Atlas of the Heart” by Brene Brown. I love Brene and how she shares her truths and perspectives, this book was extremely impactful in helping me understand what I was feeling. It gave me the vocabulary to identify emotions, dig deep to figure out where they come from, and uncover why I react in certain ways. Most importantly, she showed me how to give myself the space, compassion, and permission to experience my emotions with a deeper level of understanding and context.

The other book, “Fierce Conversations” by Susan Scott, was recently recommended to me by a close friend and I can’t put it down. My husband, my friends, and my team hear me reference this book ALL THE TIME! LOL! It’s guided me through so many intrinsic conversations with myself, and opened the door to deeper dialogue with those around me. It helps me understand how to have tough conversations with others, but mostly - it has helped me to have tough conversations with myself.  One part of the book asks, “What am I pretending not to know?” This one question has changed so much of what I pay attention to and how I interact with others.

I hope these books offer help if you are navigating through this or something similar, as I have found them to be amazing resources for my own personal development. I’d love to hear your stories and learn about what you’re going through, what has worked for you, and all the knowledge you have gained through your self-realizations and growth. There is so much gratitude in my heart having shared this connection with you through this process and I look forward to hearing more from you.