How To Start A Self-Discovery Journey With 5 Powerful Questions.

The journey of self-discovery can be intimidating, because it involves digging into your deepest thoughts, secrets, desires, goals, wishes, and behavior. It takes time, diligence, patience, and courage.

But, it’s worth the effort to go on one because when you know who you truly are, life feels more authentic, meaningful, and satisfying.

If you’re thinking about going on a self-discovery journey and you don’t know where to begin, you’re right where you need to be because here are 5 powerful questions that will help you get started.

1. What Would I Keep Doing Every Day Even If No One Would See It And I Didn’t Get Paid For It?

We often attach our identities to what we do and what society tells us we are. This is fine, but if you ever felt like there was something missing in your life & couldn’t quite put your finger on it, or felt completely lost even though you have “titles”, then ask yourself what you would do every day even if no one saw you do it or paid you for it.

Don’t worry about how small or big your thing is because whatever you write will clue you in to what your heart truly desires.

The best way to answer this question is to write down what first comes to mind. Don’t even think about how you would answer this question or give yourself longer than a minute because your mind will start to filter and judge your answers. Answering without thinking or taking it slow will give you a much more honest response.

2. What Feels Like Your Heart Is Getting Ripped Out If It Was Taken Away From You?

This question clues you in to what you truly value in life. Your values are the things that are most important to you. If they were taken away, they feel like your heart was getting ripped out of your chest.

For me, it’s my family, creativity, and inner peace. They are the top 3 things that are most important to me and define the way I live my life.

They keep me centered and I base all of my decisions on my values. So, make a list of the things that are most important to you. Then, imagine they were taken away.

If you feel like your heart was getting ripped out, good job. You’ve defined not only the things you value but also a part of you that you’ve been hiding from yourself.

If not, then you need to dig deeper and keep going until your answers can evoke this feeling.

3. What Makes Every Cell In Your Body Light Up Just Thinking About It?

When I first thought about becoming a writer, every part of me lit up, right down to my little cells. It gave me great joy and pleasure just thinking about it, even though I didn’t consider myself a good writer.

Your body is smarter than you might give it credit for. It knows exactly who you are, what you need, and what you want, even if your mind doesn’t.

It gives you signals about who you truly are, even if you can put it into words. So pay attention to what it is that makes you light up from the inside because it can be a huge clue as to who you really are as a person.

4. What Is It That Makes You Feel Like You Were Born To Do It?

Going back to my answer from the previous question, writing not only lit me up from the inside, it felt like it was something I was born to do.

It was as if the Universe created me just so I could do this one thing for the rest of my life because I’m an introvert who loves to research things and share them with others through writing.

Another great example is my oldest child. From about the time we started taking him on road trips to visit his grandparents who lived 400 miles away, we could tell he was born to be a pilot.

We didn’t know it then because he was only 18 months old, but could already see pilot-like skills in the making when he would observe street & freeway signs and could remember what they were.

He loves studying the lay of the land and is really good at directions. It came as no surprise when he told us by the age of 3 that he wanted to be an airline pilot.

5. What Makes You Feel Like You’re Home Whenever You Do It?

When I first started writing, I wrote about dental hygiene topics and even fiction. I thought I made a huge mistake about being a writer because I didn’t like writing about those things. That is, until I tried blogging about wellness topics.

Blogging about anything to do with wellness felt like coming home. It was comfortable, familiar, and best of all, I could be myself.

Think about the things that make you feel like you can breath easy, let your guard down, or kick off your shoes & sit back.

These are signals from within about who you really are. They make you feel like you’re in your natural habitat and that you belong.

A Guide To Self-Discovery.

Now that you have all these clues about who you really are, here is a guide to help you understand what the journey of self-discovery is, why it’s important, how you can benefit from it and tips to help you succeed.

What Is A Self-Discovery Journey?

Your self-discovery journey is a continuous process as you enter different stages of life. Think back to when someone first asked what you wanted to be when you grew up. You were probably a small child.

Without giving it a second thought, you may have responded with, an astronaut, or an actress, or a clown. These answers may seem completely far-fetched or silly to you now, but at the time, they were genuine.

There were no influences other than the fact that it seemed interesting and fun to you at that point in your life. Somewhere down the line, you may have told yourself that you were not good enough or those careers were not financially viable, or someone criticized your dream.

But if you were honest with yourself, you may be secretly wondering, what if. What if I had given it a shot? What if I just ignored my parents, teachers, girlfriend, boyfriend, or society? Where would I be right now? Would I be happier? Or filled with regret?

If you want to stop fantasizing, you have to embark on a journey of self-discovery. I’m not telling you to quit your job tomorrow, but it is worthwhile to take that first step and start asking yourself, “Who am I really?”

Why Is Self-Discovery So Important?

Self-discovery is important so you can live a life that feels meaningful and authentic. It acts as your internal compass while you navigate your way through life. What do I mean by this?

At one point in my life, I felt lost. I thought that working and consuming more would help steer me back in the right path. Instead, I just felt more lost and empty inside.

What I did not know then, was my lack of self-awareness. It took a very long time before I had the courage to start my own journey of self-discovery. It wasn’t easy, but I learned so much about myself and how my identity affects the way I think, feel, & behave.

When you start your own journey of self-discovery, you’ll learn what really matters most to you in life. The decisions you make will come from within rather than fear or popular opinion.

The life that you experience will be one you truly love, not what society dictates for you. You will also be loved for who you are instead of what you do, how much money you make or what others can get from you.

The Benefits Of A Self-Discovery Journey.

Knowing yourself will feel like liberation and self-discovery is the key to unlock all the buried resources and treasures you’ve been hiding from yourself.

You’ll discover what you love, what your strengths are, your weaknesses, your core beliefs, your skills, your talents, and your values.

As you learn more about yourself, suppressed emotions may also surface. This can be hard but beneficial because you’re no longer hiding from them. You’ll learn that they’re a part of you but they don’t define who you are.

When you become more self-aware, you take responsibility for all the choices you made in life and anything else that comes your way. This means lifting the weight of blame off your shoulders and empowering yourself so you no longer feel like a victim of your past.

Self-empowerment begets inner strength and creates a cycle of resilience in the face of adversity the more you practice self-awareness & self-discovery. When you know who you truly are, you know what you stand for and your feathers won’t be ruffled during challenging times.

You learn to create healthy boundaries and say no with greater conviction. You won’t make commitments that you’re not passionate about, so you’ll be left with more time to focus on what you love.

You will feel more compelled to seek validation from within rather than approval from outside of yourself. You make decisions based on your personal views & principles. And, you start living a life that feels aligned with who you truly are.

Tips To Succeed With Your Self-Discovery Journey.

Here are some tips to help you succeed on your journey of self-discovery:

1. Create Space For Reflection.

Carve out time in your schedule, even for just a few minutes, for self-reflection. Ask yourself:

“When is a good time for reflection?”
“Where is the best place to reflect?”

Finding a good time and place to reflect will help you stay consistent. When I need to reflect, I like to be somewhere peaceful & quiet so I can think without interruption.

2. Limit Digital Distractions.

Set boundaries with your phone and social media. I’m guilty of doing both myself and I find that distractions are the biggest thing that keep me from making progress, so designate some tech-free time in your day so you can be more present with yourself and your loved ones.

3. Practice Presence And Awareness.

Take five minutes each morning to sit quietly, breathe deeply, and center yourself. It trains your mind to become more self-aware so you are more likely to connect with your true self.

If you don’t like sitting, incorporate mindful movement, like walking, to reconnect with your physical self and strengthen your mind-body connection.

If you can remember, keep a notebook handy to track any thoughts, sensations, or feelings that come up to help you on your journey.

4. Embrace Imperfection.

You can learn so much more about yourself when you embrace your flaws alongside your strengths. True growth and transformation come when you embrace the beauty of being a work in progress, so allow yourself to make mistakes, learn from them, and keep moving forward. Remember to be honest with yourself, but don’t push yourself to answer anything that might feel difficult.

5. Celebrate Small Wins.

I need to remind myself of this constantly because you’re more likely to stick with something if it feels joyful or fun. So don’t forget to celebrate your small wins because they reinforce the meaningful & joyful aspects that a self-discovery journey can bring.

Last Thoughts On Taking A Self-Discovery Journey.

If you made it this far, congratulations! Asking yourself these questions can be tough, but they reveal the parts of you that might be hidden from your consciousness. Use them any time you feel lost, need to reconnect with yourself, or guide you back to who you really are.