As I am searching for my inner Superwoman I have to admit that it’s sometimes hard to discern “who you are” from “who you were”. As I am meeting new people and getting reacquainted with old friends, there seems to be some confusion – what qualities from my past are still who I am today? I have to be very careful to find the authentic self, not just the opposite of who I’ve been. And certainly not the person that people around me are looking for as a mirror to themselves.

For years I ignored the voice inside that guides us – the one that makes you question your decisions and challenges your direction. The one that tells you “it’s time to move on” when you clearly know that you’re heading down a wrong path — but you continue anyway because it’s easy — or it’s expected — or because you can’t seem to see any other possible path and that scares you stiff, so you just stay still. So, I understand why I’m struggling to know exactly what my inner Superwoman looks like – feels like – is like … This shit isn’t easy, right?!

But I am finding some things that are “super” helpful (pardon the pun, couldn’t resist) … and today I needed the reminder that I’m on the right track and to simply stay the course:

Be YOU

Sounds so simple but when you have spent a lot of years losing track of “you”, it’s so important to reconnect with who you are authentically. So turn off the radio the next time you’re driving. Wake up early and watch the sunrise. Take a glass of wine and enjoy the sunset. Go to the movies by yourself. Begin to write in a journal (or keep track in fun Apps like Evernote or Day One). Write words that define who you are on a few post-it notes and place them around your bathroom, office or home as reminders — we’re only human after all – we are forgetful sometimes!

Do One Thing That Makes You Happy – EVERYDAY 

Practice makes perfect. Listen to what makes you happy in every moment of every day … and then follow through. Don’t lose track of the 1,440 minutes that we have in each and every day – and every one of those moments are opportunities to find your happy!

Listen To Your Intuition

We all have intuition. We just all don’t listen to it. Try to ask your inner self for answers to everything and see how you felt when it was the right decision, versus how it felt when it was the wrong decision. You’ll quickly learn which feelings you can trust and which ones you need to toss out with the trash.

Do Something That Scares You

Is there something you’ve been meaning to try but haven’t? Go somewhere that you think looks intriguing? Experience something unique just because you can? Stepping outside of your proverbial comfort zone will give you indications of the things that bring you joy. Even better if the thought of it scares the crap out of you! Making it to the other side will bring confidence and you’ll be one step closer to knowing yourself.

Change

You are not a tree. If something isn’t working – change it. The quicker the better.

…

Sometimes we have no idea just how unhappy we are, and it takes what feels like an act of congress to take just one step away from that unhappiness to something that makes us wake up with a smile on our face. Today the song “Wake Me Up’ was on the radio as I drove into work. And I heard two sentences that I didn’t hear before but completely defined my past six years. Sad that we can go so long trying to make things work when in our heart of hearts we know just how truly lost we are.

All this time I was finding myself
And I didn’t know I was lost