Increasing Self-Awareness And Inner Peace

What does increasing self-awareness and inner peace have to do with boudoir photography? Boudoir is about accepting yourself and seeing that you are so much more than a reflection in a mirror.

Boudoir also contains aspects of self-love and body positivity. Self-awareness and inner peace are a part of this journey that can take you from doubting yourself to empowering you to be the woman you were meant to be.

What is self-awareness?

Self-awareness is the ability to examine your emotions and environment clearly and objectively. Using reflection and contemplation, you are able to gauge how your values, desires and goals can be aligned with your situation.

“Self awareness is the ability to take an honest look at your life without any attachment to it being right or wrong, good or bad.”

– Debbie Ford

“Humility is not about having a low self image or poor self esteem. Humility is about self-awareness.”

– Erwin McManus

What is inner peace?

Inner peace is the ability to stay physically and spiritually calm. It is remaining content, happy and blissful in the face of stress. We all experience problems, inner peace allows you to deal with it without allowing it to affect you emotionally.

“Do not let the behavior of others destroy your inner peace.”

— Dalai Lama

“Let go of the thoughts that don’t make you strong.”

— Karen Salmansohn

Self awareness and inner peace combined …

Self-awareness and inner peace are important strengths of character. They give you a better understanding of who you are, what you need and how to move forward.

So how can you develop and improve these abilities? I’m going to share three steps I have found helpful in my own experience.

The Emotional Thought Shower …

Some people refer to this as a brain dump, but I prefer the term emotional thought shower. I’ll sit at the computer or grab a pad and pen and start writing everything I am thinking and feeling.

There is no editing. No organization required. Don’t examine them, just get them out. Nothing can be wrong. Pour all of your thoughts & emotions onto a page or in my case most of the time, many pages. Most important, don’t hold anything back.

It is okay to feel the emotions as you write – this part of the exercise isn’t the time to deal with them. Just enjoy your emotional thought shower and allow it to rinse you clean.

The investigation …

Next it is time to look back on your notes and figure out why you are experiencing these emotions and thoughts. You’ve got to be honest with yourself, because this is internal.

Sure there may be an external cause or causes for these feelings, but you need to reflect on the why. This can be hard as hell, because it can sometimes lead to places you may not want to go, but it is an important step.

Why? Because of our egos. Everyone has an ego that defines who they are as a person. Your beliefs, personality traits and habits are all a piece of this subconscious part of the brain.

When you feel offended or hurt, that is the ego. If a lover or friend walks away from you, you wonder what you did to cause this and how it could have been avoided. If you are treated rudely, that offense is a feeling of disrespect, which directly impacts your ego.

“If you get your ego in your way, you will only look to other people and circumstances to blame.”

– Jocko Willink

Your ego is that voice in your head that compares you to others. It may brutally judge people, trying to raise you up while putting others down. Ego can cause an urge to threaten, mock or insult others. Unchecked, ego can be a nasty beast. Thankfully, you are not that voice, but the one listening to it. When the ego is upset, you can choose to listen and allow these emotions to consume you. Or you can quiet it by analyzing why you feel this way. You’ve created you emotional thought shower, now it is time to calm down. After you take a walk, exercise, grab a beverage or take a nap, it will be time to examine what this all means. Once the emotions dissipate, you may find what caused the emotional anguish to your ego was a misunderstanding. Perhaps you, or someone else weren’t communicating clearly. Ask yourself, was the cause trying to disrespect me or cause me anguish? If the answer is no, then the emotional distress is a waste of energy. If the answer is yes, you don’t need that in your life.

“We must go beyond the constant clamor of ego, beyond the tools of logic and reason, to the still, calm place within us: the realm of the soul.”

– Deepak Chopra

“Nobody can bring you peace but yourself.”

— Ralph Waldo Emerson

Dignity – Poise – Self-discipline

Always remember you are in control of yourself and your responses. By being self-aware, you are able to evaluate yourself, your circumstances and your emotions. When you align your behaviors with your values, you can accept inner peace and live a healthier and happier life.

Ready to start planning your Boudoir Experience?
I would love to chat with you and go over all the details of our process, sessions and what you are wanting to create so we can plan the perfect boudoir experience for you.

Ready to chat NOW?
Text me at: 410-596-4127

Office Hours are Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm.

You may also email me at: thomas@thomasboudoir.com

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