TheSanityPlan

Solutions for finding balance in this crazy world

  • What is a Sanity Plan?
  • Parenting
  • Relationships
  • Wellbeing
  • Organization
  • Contact

THE SANITY PLAN PRINCIPLES PART 2– Discover Yourself

October 24, 2016 By Sara M. Leave a Comment

Welcome to the part two of The Sanity Plan Principles series. The second principle is:

discoveryourself

What is “Discovering Yourself?”

When you turn your attention inward to study your own thoughts, feelings, motivations, and preferences, you are “discovering yourself.”

Figuring out who we are is a lifelong journey. Partly because the introspection and self-knowledge takes time, and partly because we change so much throughout the course of our lives.

 

How do you “Discover yourself?”

This brings us back to the first principle, Being Present. In order to learn more about ourselves, we must be willing to slow down and listen.
Listen to and acknowledge our own thoughts and feelings.

680x450-blankcanvasAsk yourself questions. Did you notice a particular reaction you had? Ask yourself, “Why did I react that way?”

Pay attention to your habits and preferences. Do you like to do things in a particular order? Why is that?

Do you prefer to do certain things at certain times of day? Why is that?

 

How does “Discovering Ourselves” help us?

Self-knowledge is a powerful tool. Armed with an understanding of yourself, you can make better decisions that more closely align with your needs.

Knowing who you are helps you communicate more clearly in existing relationships. It is also important when developing new relationships in terms of the people you choose and the way you engage them.

Understanding your unique preferences helps you organize your day and your life in a way that best suits you – whether it is the type of work you do, when and how you complete certain tasks, how you orchestrate family/social time, etc.

 

680x450-relax4My experience

As my mother often reminds me, I am on a journey of “self-discovery.” I tend to have a natural tendency towards this as I am very introspective. I am fascinated to learn about my inner workings, and I also enjoy learning about what makes other people tick. It was part of my drive in pursuing a BA in Psychology.

The more I know about myself, the better equipped I am to handle whatever life throws my way. I have identified certain buttons I struggle with, which makes it easier to realize when I am falling back on an old habit or way of thinking. The ability to recognize a self-characteristic is the first step in being able to use tactics to change it or find a creative solution around it.

Not all characteristics are “bad” per se. I have recently discovered that I am a highly sensitive person. While I love to feel and experience, sometimes it can be overwhelming to others. Because I am aware of this in myself and its effect on others, I can control how much of that sensitivity I reveal.

Or, I am very aware of the fact that I do my best work in the morning when I am fresh and my mind is clear. So, I orchestrate my day in a way that I can dedicate that highly focused time to work or creativity.

 

What methods do you use in order to learn more about yourself? How does it help you to restore Sanity in your life?

 

Next principle: Build Your Network

Sign up below to be notified of all new posts & get inspired to build your own Sanity Plan!

 

TheSanityPlan is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. All products recommended are used personally by us and opinions about them are our own.

Filed Under: Self Discovery, Wellbeing Tagged With: basics, mindfulness, mindset, principles, sanity plan, self-discovery

Are You Ready to Dig Deep?

October 5, 2016 By Sara M. 4 Comments

I had a great meeting with my therapist a few weeks ago. I am a huge believer in therapy (it’s a part of my Sanity Plan), and I have been through many different series and styles in my life.

680x450-pensivewomanThe Story

Reflecting on my history of therapy, I have been feeling as though I’ve always addressed my life in fragments. There was typically one triggering event, so I would seek help, and deal with that particular event.

But now that having young children has triggered both old and new issues (don’t all mothers of young children lose their minds?), I decided to sit down and do some work with a counselor on my whole life. I wanted a holistic view of my characteristics, struggles, pain points, and scars. The idea was that this evaluation will better prepare me for the next situation that I encounter, even if it is something I have never navigated.

So, she asked for the list. And boy, there was a list.

I filled up the whole session just rambling off the “stories” of my life. And I could have gone on for hours. A mixture of childhood hurts, abandonment issues, unstable family life, extreme loneliness, betrayal, teen rebellion, bad influences, bad relationships, mental illness, you name it, it’s in there.

I had surprisingly few feelings when rattling off that way in list format. As if all of those things had happened to someone else, instead of me.

The Question

And when I was done, she looked at me very seriously and said,

“What I tell all my patients before embarking on a journey of this kind, is that you need to decide if you are really ready. I mean, really ready.

Because this is going to be hard work.”

She scheduled me for two weeks, and sent me home to think about it.

In all my years of therapy, this was the first time anyone had ever put it to me that way. I mean, it made immediate sense. In the past, it had always been triggered by necessity. But now it was up to me to make a choice to dig down really deep, and come to understand myself in a new way. A holistic way.

So, I pondered it. A lot.

The Answer

450x680-sadbabySurprisingly. My answer was actually “no.” No, I am not ready to tear myself apart and rebuild right now. The biggest reason is the kids. They need me right now, they need me to help them learn how to communicate and regulate the overwhelming emotions of toddlerhood.

I just can’t fall apart right now. I don’t have the luxury of being able to stay in bed all day to nurse a broken heart. I have people that rely on me and a limited support network.

So, the big picture will be tabled for now. And we’ve agreed to deal with things as they come up. I will focus primarily on being the best mom I can to my toddlers and stepdaughter and the best wife I can be to my hardworking husband.

And it’s okay. If there is anything I know about myself, it’s that my past will be there when I choose to visit it again. Unless it visits me first.

Who can you rely on to help keep you sane?

Filed Under: Self Discovery, Wellbeing Tagged With: counseling, honesty, self-discovery, therapy

The Sanity Plan – 10 Principles to Live By

October 4, 2016 By Sara M. 14 Comments

680x450-writingOne of the best ways to stay focused on improving your life is to define a set of principles to live by. These principles then become the default for when you are not sure on a decision or path to take.

Here are the principles we use to guide us along our Sanity Plan (not sure what a Sanity Plan is? Click here). Each highlighted principle has a linked post explaining it in further detail.

  1. Be present – This above all else. Presence of mind is the key to all the remaining principles; without awareness, one is perpetually stuck in a reactive state of being.
  2. Discover yourself – Be on a “journey of self-discovery.” Self-knowledge will aid in making better decisions based on your unique needs.
  3. Build your network – We cannot do this alone. If you don’t have a built in support network of family and friends, build your own.
  4. Forge close relationships – Worthwhile relationships are as important as food and water. Get past the surface and give more of yourself.
  5. Be solution oriented – Become aware of the problems you face, and take steps to find a better way to tackle each one. Implement on the spot, if possible.
  6. Control your inputs – We are a living in a sea of information and stimulation. Be conscious of creating a filter based on your values.
  7. Create systems – Recurring tasks should be automated to reduce workload.
  8. Reduce obligations/Simplify – Obligations eat away at the balance you are trying to create in your life. Accommodate them sparingly.
  9. Honor your body – Your body is going to carry you through this life. Nourish it with real food, good sleep, and exercise.
  10. Give back – Complete the cycle. As you receive the fruits of your journey, share them with someone else who needs a hand.

I will be covering each of these principles in a separate post, and use them as recurring themes as well. Be sure to follow to join in the conversation!

Would you add anything to this list? What principles do you live by that help keep your life sane?

Filed Under: Self Discovery, Wellbeing Tagged With: mindset, principles, sanity plan, values

Follow the Sanity!

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Contributor for:

Welcome to THE SANITY PLAN! Here you will find my attempts to restore order in my crazy life post kids. I'm just getting started & I have a lot to say. So far I've written a lot about my perspectives on parenting (sorry, it's where I am at), but I'd love it if you followed my journey to improve my habits, get more organized, redefine my career, and generally live a good life. Or, you can follow just for the entertainment, I promise there will be lots of that. Do you want to learn more about building A Sanity Plan?

Follow me on Twitter

My Tweets

What Others Are Reading

  • 5 Things I Did Not Know About My Firstborn
    5 Things I Did Not Know About My Firstborn
  • I’m Not JUST a Stay at Home Mom
    I’m Not JUST a Stay at Home Mom

Looking for something specific?

Subscribe to My Blog

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Categories

  • Finances
  • Organization
  • Parenting
  • Personal
  • Relationships
  • Self Improvement
  • Success Stories
  • Uncategorized
  • Updates
  • Wellbeing
    • Self Discovery
  • Work/Life

Tags

balance basics career change children communication diet dreams family gifts goals habits health healthy kids letter love marriage meditation mental health mindfulness mindset motherhood parenting pregnancy preschool principles productivity reflections relationships relaxation SAHM sanity plan saving money self-discovery sensory spd stress tantrums teens toddlers WAHM wellbeing work writing

Follow the Sanity on Instagram

Something is wrong.
Instagram token error.

Copyright © 2023 The Sanity Plan· Built on Genesis Framework · by Beyond Blog Design · Log in