When You Release What Isn't Yours, You Remember Who You Are (Living In Alignment)

Today is day 12 of The July Ultimate Blog Challenge. The month is moving right along. Yesterday was the first day this month so far that I didn't post. My morning started out with a lovely meeting with a business accountability group I am in. I then went out with my son and we had a lovely day in the town of New Paltz, NY, which is about 45 minutes away from us. I am working on a reel showing what we did. On the way home I stopped at Michaels to pick up some yarn. I am getting back into crochet and wanted some other colors of yarn for a bag I am planning to make. By the time we got home and ate dinner, I was just not feeling like creating a blog post. I almost logged in to post something for the sake of posting, and I decided to be kind to myself and not put a bunch of pressure on myself. I took a shower instead and relaxed on the couch with my husband.

This morning when I woke up I was deep in thought about the theme of alignment. Reflecting on the events I have experienced over the past three months I am feeling deeply guided by my intuition. I am becoming more clear on what is for me and what isn't for me. What to spend time on and not spend time on. Meet myself where I am and be gentle. When I am feeling uncertain about what I should do next, I take a moment to pause and meditate. Just five minutes can be a calming and insightful experience. When I do this, I get a better sense of what actions feel aligned for me. I get clarity about what is feeling forced and what is feeling in flow.

As a recovering people-pleaser, I spent a good part of my life taking on the thoughts, feelings, and emotions of other people around me. I was taking responsibility for how they felt and made decisions based on what would be pleasing for them. This lead to me making a lot of choices that were out of alignment. for me. I would tolerate and self-abandon. When I finally stopped doing this I went through a long period of feeling lost and needing to find myself. Following my curiosities over the years, has allowed me to discover my true self. I am still getting to know her more.

How do you know if you are out alignment?

For me it is an internal feeling of having to force myself to do something I really don't want to do or interact with people I really do not want to interact with. If I am noticing that I am tolerating something that is bothering me, that is an indicator that I am our of alignment. Another indicator is if I am telling myself I should be doing something that doesn't feel right to me. A more aligned life starts with checking in with yourself and taking note about how you truly feel about things.

Side Note: Forcing yourself to do something that doesn't feel aligned is a different feeling from pushing yourself to do something out of your comfort zone. When there is a goal you want to accomplish but you are afraid to take action, then that is an opportunity for growth. Checking in with yourself and understanding how you truly feel about things, will help you understand how misalignment and opportunities for growth feel to you.

Here are some journal prompts to help you get started.

• 1. Where have I been living according to someone else's expectations instead of my own values?

  Reflect on the roles, responsibilities, or beliefs you've taken on because you felt you "should," rather than because they truly align with who you are.

  
  

• 2. What have I been carrying that was never mine to carry?

  This could be guilt, fear, other people's opinions, unrealistic expectations, or responsibilities that don't belong to you.

  
  

• 3. When do I feel the most like my authentic self?

  Think about the people, places, or activities that leave you feeling energized, peaceful, and fully yourself. What do they have in common?

  
  

• 4. If I trusted myself completely, what is one change I would make in my life today?

  Don't worry about whether it's practical or possible. Simply notice what your heart is telling you.

  
  

• 5. What would living in greater alignment look like over the next 30 days?

  Instead of focusing on a complete life overhaul, identify one small step that would help you honor your values, your well-being, or your authentic voice.

I would also like to share one of my favorite meditations with you that helps me when I feel out of alignement. Lee Harris has a lot of great offerings that have helped me over the years.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Pqti9IvjYI

How do you know when you are feeling unaligned? What steps do you take to come back home to yourself?

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Jennifer Shlomovich is a Plant-Powered Lifestyle-Educator on a mission to help others improve their health by eating more plants. Jennifer is also passionate about educating others about the realities of animal agriculture and how embodying a vegan lifestyle is a beautiful experience. As the only vegan in her household, she knows firsthand how challenging it can be to stay true to your values when the people around you aren’t on the same path. For years, she put everyone else’s needs ahead of her own, but through her journey, she discovered the power of setting boundaries, living by her values, and confidently prioritizing her well-being. On her YouTube channel, The Confident Vegan, she shares inspiring interviews, practical tips, and empowering conversations about what it really means to live in alignment with your values. She is also the co-host of That Vegan Morning Show with Kimberly Winters of the Did You Bring The Hummus podcast.