Becoming Whole Again- after you feel your essential self has been compromised

Becoming Whole Again- after you feel your essential self has been compromised

Sonal Kothari

Independent Professional Trainer & Coach

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Growing up, I often felt compromised – it happened when I chose the other (friend, parent, teacher, family etc); the relationship’s or societal demands (perceived or real), over myself. Each time I didn’t stand up for my needs or for my values, something in me was compromised. Of course I never recognised it as such at that time.  Each time I “did not find my voice”, the further I drifted away from me; till one day the rubber band was stretched so far out that the only two options were – go back to self or break!

This experience is not unique to me, of this I am quite sure -:)!

All the things we do without wanting to – and so get compromised

The things I refer to are often small things,  but big things too. Saying yes, even when your whole being is screaming – “no I can’t eat anymore”! Or, saying no, because it’s the polite thing to do, when you really want nothing more than to say yes! Going along with the herd, even when it goes against the grain, because standing out is far more discomforting. The times when you are told how things are, but they don’t make sense to you; which was a lot of the times you were growing up.

Times when avoiding confrontation like the plague is the only agenda item, because standing out or standing up for who we are and what we believe in, is just not worth the trouble; and, we’re too scared anyway! I often didn’t recognise the fear; I just lived it as part of my life along with so many others around me. Some more and some less fearful, than others in different aspects of our lives.

As you read this, are those moments flashing back to you too?

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How do we recognise when we are getting compromised?

We will know we are compromised by the knot in our stomachs, the headaches and sinus pain, the tightness in our shoulders, the pain in our backs, the not okayness of our beings; and as we get older – the dread, the nausea, the blood pressure and the stress we experience.

Our bodies are a fine barometer of the compromises we make, if we but learn to read the signs.

The habit starts in one’s childhood

As children we are rarely, if at all, given the necessary permissions or opportunity to be authentic and whole. To be aligned from the inside out requires a nurturing and mature environment. More often than not, and often with all “good intentions” I might add, the “shoulds”, the “musts” and the “must nots”; the “need tos” and the “have tos” of society at large, coming via the adults into the child’s life, get piled up so high on the child that, the child splits from its essential self in order to survive in this aberrant environment.

How can we be whole again?

With awareness.

The simplest awareness comes through the observation of the natural breathe; breathing deliberately, breathing into different parts of our body. Awareness also comes through observing our minds and our bodies at work; becoming intimate with our internal geography. That is to be able say, what feels okay and what does not, by simply watching ourselves.

With courage.

The courage to experiment and step out of our comfort zones on a regular basis. To speak up, to honor what feels right, to say no when we mean no and yes when we mean yes.

With loving kindness.

To hold ourselves and others in gentleness and compassion.

With patience.

For our struggles, our journey; in other words for our process.

With a Tribe.

By belonging-ness to a tribe; a person or people who we feel recognised by; in who’s presence we feel understood, cared for and supported.

With our Voice.

By speaking our truth – softly at first and then louder and more confidently as we become more practiced in the art of selfhood.

With Practice.

By investing our time, effort, money and focus on things that we love doing and by the doing of which brings us closer to our essence.

With self –care.

By eating and resting well, drinking lots of water and exercising. By taking care of our minds; by keeping a growth mindset and psychological health with therapy, with spiritual practice and with regular meet up with friends and family. Do what it takes for you to be in balance with yourself and your environment.

With Letting-go.

By being curious about and gently questioning the “shoulds”, “musts”, “need tos” and “have tos”. Breaking the patterns, by giving ourselves permission to do the things we need to do or stop doing.

Therapy is a great way to get started on this.

 

Please do leave your comments at the bottom and do share with others if you like this article.

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Kakoli Das
Kakoli Das
6 years ago

The words that I needed to hear. “Taking care of self” – this was alien concept to me, it took me a while to question the “label” of selfishness on self care.

As I start connecting with self, I also question the anger, the screaming, the haphazardness around, and the back ache , and then I slowly start planning my experiments on the ways I know – of love, of being authentic.

You have articulated what I needed to hear , and succinctly in one article.

Welcome, conscious living. Bye bye, back ache.

mm
Sonal Kothari
6 years ago
Reply to  Kakoli Das

Thank you Kakoli for your sharing your thoughts and experiences around Self-Care. I am sure many will resonate 🙂 ! xoxo

Mayank Srivastav
Mayank Srivastav
6 years ago

Beautiful….well articulated…touching the base..

mm
Sonal Kothari
6 years ago

Thank you Mayank for your response. I am glad that you found it helpful :)!

Subha Sundar
Subha Sundar
6 years ago

Beautiful write up! Dot on! 👍

mm
Sonal Kothari
6 years ago
Reply to  Subha Sundar

Thank you Subha :)!

Ritoo Goswami
Ritoo Goswami
6 years ago

So true

mm
Sonal Kothari
6 years ago
Reply to  Ritoo Goswami

Happy to hear that you resonate with it Ritoo

Divya Paul
Divya Paul
6 years ago

Thank you, Sonal for this write-up.
‘Whole Again’ is the operative phrase thats been running on my mind for a couple of days now and this article beautifully outlines the ‘how’ of it…very helpful!

mm
Sonal Kothari
6 years ago
Reply to  Divya Paul

Thank you for writing in Divya. Please feel free to email me if you have questions or further sharing. Would love to hear from you.

Kousalya
Kousalya
6 years ago

Good thoughts Sonal. You have articulated very well abt how important it is for us to acknowledge the bodily symptoms n revive our true self.
Yeah.. With responsibility i would take care of my self

Thanks

mm
Sonal Kothari
6 years ago
Reply to  Kousalya

Thank you Kousalya! For writing in and for taking care of yourself :)! So many things start to change for the better within, without and around us when we practice selfcare. Lots of love to you –

susheel dhanasri
susheel dhanasri
6 years ago

a very thought provoking article sonal enticing the reader to adapt a practice not just read thru

mm
Sonal Kothari
6 years ago

Dear Susheel, thank you for your feedback and sharing. I have to thank my editor for writing about adapting the practice part.

mm
Chithra Vijay
6 years ago

Sonal my girl, the article is soooo you 😀 As I was reading, I had an image of the words pouring out from your heart; so sincere and honest 💕
The challenge is getting the balancing act together – between compromising self and others; many a client come in with the pull on either side; what you’ve captured under ‘How to be whole again’ is comprehensive 👍🏼

mm
Sonal Kothari
6 years ago
Reply to  Chithra Vijay

Dearest Chithra – thank you for writing in. For your kind words and connection. Please feel free to share this article with your clients and with others. I also will be happy to engage over email or FB if people have questions or want to discuss. I don’t have all the answers and through conversations I learn so much. xoxo

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