How to Meet Your Self

Imagine waking from a long sleep, where your mind has been running on autopilot, repeating the same patterns day after day without your conscious input. This is the reality most live in, bound by the conditioning absorbed in early childhood. Our brains, like sponges, soak up the environment around us from birth, imprinting beliefs and habits without our conscious choice. These patterns, stored deep within our subconscious mind and nervous system, quietly shape who we are and how we respond to life’s challenges. Many of us don’t realize that much of what we think and do is not truly our own choice but a reflection of these early imprints. For example, a child growing up in a household where emotions were dismissed may develop a habit of suppressing feelings, carrying that into adulthood as emotional numbness or avoidance.

One powerful survival mechanism many unknowingly adopt is dissociation—mentally disconnecting from the present to escape overwhelming emotions or situations. This might manifest as losing time scrolling endlessly on a phone or feeling spaced out during conversations. While this protected us as children, it now keeps us trapped in cycles of disconnection. Recognizing these patterns is the awakening moment, the beginning of reclaiming our agency.

Consciousness—the act of becoming aware of our thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations—allows us to step outside these automatic patterns. When you pause and ask yourself, 'What am I doing? Where is my attention?' you begin to break the cycle of autopilot. A simple exercise like the Daily Consciousness Check-in, setting alarms throughout the day to notice your present moment experience, can illuminate how often your habit self is running the show.

Though challenging at first, this awakening is the foundation of transformation. It is like turning on a light in a dark room, revealing the furniture you’ve been bumping into unknowingly. With this awareness, you can begin to choose new ways of thinking and being, rewiring your brain through neuroplasticity. Each conscious moment creates new neural pathways, gradually replacing old habits with healthier, more aligned patterns.

As you embark on this journey, remember that change is not instantaneous. Mental resistance is natural because the brain prefers the safety of the known, even if it causes discomfort. By keeping small promises to yourself daily and practicing affirmations like 'Every day I am learning more about who I actually am,' you build trust in your ability to change.

This section sets the stage for the deep work ahead—understanding how your conditioning has shaped your habit self and learning to awaken consciousness. From here, we will dive into reconnecting with your body, the vessel where much of this conditioning lives, and where healing truly begins.