Part 1: The Journey of Self-Inquiry: Who am I?
The purpose of my writings is to share my own perspectives in the world. I feel sharing vulnerably can open the space for individuals to question their own way of showing up in the world and feel a sense of connectedness to know that we are not alone on this wonderful journey of life.
When I reflect on the past, I am able to pinpoint specific moments where I felt most free. These being reflective of my inner state. One would say being in that moment with no judgement or expectation of outcome. These moments however were fleeting, and I always found myself wanting to go back so I could experience that moment of pure joy, love and freedom. Only now did I realise I was chasing something that is already within. Something that is available for all of us. Present moment Awareness.
One of the most powerful experiences which I can pinpoint largely as monumental in my self-inquiry journey is my Duke of Ed experience. This experience was highly challenging and highly spiritual. It is no surprise that it was so life changing. Days were spent immersed with nature and pure human connection.
When returning to what I would previously call the ‘normal’ human experience which involved school, parties, friends, expectations was challenging and highly emotional as at that current point in time I was unsure to what I had just experienced and if I would ever feel that way again. I spent a lot of time chasing that same freedom and happiness, not knowing I was actually chasing the present – something that exists in the pure form of just ‘being’.
I have a friend who has helped me see my own truth and un-identify with my thoughts and essentially my mind to a place far beyond what I thought possible. This feeling of oneness experienced in my being is not always ‘felt’ each day in the human experience, it is what I would call eternal and existing. It exists within and once ‘unlocked’ will never wither away.
My personal self-inquiry has had a deep and highly transformative impact on my life, and the way I carry myself in the world. My own shift to discover a deeper self-love has opened space for a deeper love and compassion for all beings. Whilst also allowing a more integrated and wider perspective (which is continuously evolving in every moment).
This is reflected out in the physical world by my words, actions and way of showing up.
This is why I love this quote- “If you want to change the world, start with yourself.” – Mahatma Ghandi
Other influential tools and practices on my journey have been coaching with Yes& Co, meditation, Nero-linguistic Programming (NLP) training and following my intuition.
In this post I will be focusing on my learnings from NLP.
Human beings hold everything they need within themselves. It is this realisation which can shift reality for individuals to move through life with the confidence that they hold the tools to respond in the moment to any scenario presenting itself.
NLP presupposes that an individual responds to their own map of reality not reality itself. In any given moment, reality is playing out as it is.
The NLP Communications Model provides a framework as to how humans are perceiving reality. This model identifies that there are multiple deletions, distortions and generalisations happening before a response is generated.
Applying the NLP communications model in a coaching setting is a powerful tool to recognise the meaning making and belief systems which can challenge the individual for growth and evolution.
I believe one of the most influential impacts on our planet is the evolution of human consciousness. An impact which reaches the environment, human- beings and all other living beings.
The ability of an individual to remain flexible in their thinking (meta programs) provides them with the tools to respond contextually to what the moment is presenting. If an individual is responding in a habitual way it is simply because that’s how they have learnt to respond based on their map of reality.
Awareness for one’s own habitual thinking patterns comes great flexibility as they can recognise that it is their choice in a moment how they choose to respond to the external stimulus.
The individual who recognises that a plan is simply a construct opens choice for them to adapt in the moment and choose how they will respond. The flexibility is when an individual can ground more closely with reality as it is not with the narrative in mind.
In applying NLP to myself I come to recognise where I am seeing the world through my bias and habitual ways of being. The more awareness for my habitual thought patterns, comes greater awareness for others habitual thought patterns.
I found that the less I engage with my habituated reactions, the more present I am to recognise people are only ever responding to reality the best they know in that moment.
This flexibility to know I have the choice to choose how I respond and change my own way of being ultimately shifted all my relationships. I am now able to see more clearly and hold space with compassion for other individuals’ perspectives, reactions, and ways of showing up in the world.
In applying NLP to my-self, there has been more awareness for my world views, beliefs, bias and assumptions. This allowed for a multitude of shifts in broadening my perspective. It is a life long process of continuously re-remembering my true nature , and clearing away all that I take myself to be.
Who am I?
My own personal awakening combined with NLP life coaching supported me to re-remember that I am life itself.
Our outer shell and identity as perceived by others is in fact not who we truly are as we are not this physical structure of thoughts and feelings. We are pure light beings of love who experience the sensations of having thoughts and feelings in the human form.
I am an observer, the awareness present to all of life’s experiences in each moment. An unborn and undying awareness.
I am and you are the awareness in which the question, “Who am I?” arises . The space behind the thought.
