What is self-expression and why it's important.

Today's post will be all about self-expression, what it is, how to do it and why it's important?

The second part of the topics I want to cover which are directly connected to the work I do!

Self-expression!

Okey lets check what Google has to say about that!

From all of the definitions I've seen, I really liked the one from masterclass.com because it's often not really clear what it really is, how to know if we are doing it or if we are doing it right...

The thing is, this is a very individual subject, no one can really tell you how to do it, what to do or when to do it... Because it's Self expression, and everyone is different!

I couldn't understand what it means for a very long time, in my head self-expression was connected to those extroverted performing people that will dance on the street not caring about what others may say - i was sure that I can't express myself freely as I'm shy, introverted and as I discovered later in my life - highly sensitive!

The true power of self expression was revealed to me when I stoped making art for a year, I was really miserable and to be fair really depressed too, I had a feeling inside that I just walk around without a purpose, when my true - the most happy self is when creating. I felt that I have no personality and just emptiness is there.

It all did change when I did my first intuitive painting, with shaking hands fear on my shoulder... But it felt incredibly good - like if my soul was on fire!

After this experience I create every single day, even if it's cooking, painting, writing, doing mindful art - there has to be something that comes out of me each day as I feel horrible if there is nothing that can feed my expression. Even playing with the rocks on the beach with my son, I always follow my intuition on how to express myself each day.

I think it's extremely important to care for this part of our existence, as now days we are often busy at work, coming back for even more adult responsibilities and there is no time to stop, listen and express.

Art for me is the best way but for you it might be cooking, dressing up, dancing, yoga - you name it.

How to recognise you are doing it?

It will make you happy and satisfied! Time won't matter and you will feel like a kid again, aligned, content and fulfilled...

It doesn't have to be perfect or take you few hours a day, find those tiny moments throughout your day to keep you going!

Today's post exercise for you to observe yourself throughout the day and notice what part of the day felt like total cool time and made you happier. Then day by day do more of those things.

I think that self expression is just being yourself - without an input of anyone else. Just you, your soul, your light.

Let me know what is your unique way to express yourself in the comments!

Have a lovely day 😍

What even is Self-discovery and why we need it?

Ah Self-discovery... I talk about it a lot in my world but what even is that and why (specially) Highly sensitive people needs it... The Google defenition is :

And this is exacly that, you may think yeah obviously I know myself, why I have to do all this work around it...

Highly sensitive people or empaths needs this kind of work because we can do easily get caught up in other people emotions, problems, etc. So sometimes we don't even really know who we are.

I have been walking around for around 27 years of not really knowing myself, it was when in 2020 I was a first time mum and pandemic hit, I had to be on my own and my new born son for most of the time as my husband was still working. The first thing that amazed me was that longer I don't see anyone I felt better, I was feeling okey with what I am wearing, what I am reading, what I am doing every single day. Then I realised that everything in my life was done to show other people and not for myself, to impress, to prove, to be accepted, to be liked, to fit in, to please.

My Self-discovery journey started with the test of being HSP on https://hsperson.com/test/

After seeing a post on Instagram, everything started to make sense. I was definitely not weird, just different, with different nervous system needs.

Then I started digging deeper and deeper, simple things like ;I found out that I actually like colour red - my whole life when I wanted something red my mum wouldn't let me as SHE didn't like red - so I was sure I don't like red too. I got my first red dress, I felt amazing in it!

Then from doing little things like being on my own to decide on what I want to eat or what I want to do was such a game changer! I was more calm, relaxed, less resentment towards others because I stopped filling the gaps of other people life's but started to create my own.

That work is essential to feel in control of your own life, to feel like you are the driver and not always at the back. We highly sensitive people are really at risk of not knowing ourselves because we like to serve, be the helper, not to cause trouble, be the nicest in the room so we think it's okey and that that's our role in the society, and yes, we can be amazing at it, but we cannot loose the sight of who we really are or want because then we may be very unhappy.

If you never did anything like that - start small! From choosing what you want for dinner without asking anyone else first or trying on this new colour, or take yourself to the park and see what you want to do without anyone else telling you!

This is the first post about Self-discovery second one will focus on self-expression and the last one on how we can actually use mindfulness and creativity to be able to know ourselves and express our true nature freely! Keep your eyes around this space for next 2 weeks.

Sending loads of love!

Greta from

www.littlemindfullife.co.uk

Why it's important to do things alone when you are a Sensitive Soul

If you are Highly Sensitive person or an Empath or any other sensitive type you know perfectly how easily it is for us to absorb others energy, moods and personalities, that is why I want to talk about doing things on your own and how does it build self-confidence and strengthens the most important relationship we ever had - with ourselves.

I was never comfortable to do things on my own, as very anxious and sensitive person I couldn't even stand a thought of being on my own, even at home. From living with parents moving in with my husband, I was in fact never alone. I didn't know who I am when no one else was around.

From the childhood programming and school we had clear message if someone was alone - it meant something is seriously wrong with them... That's why I always felt awkward to go for a lunch on my own, cinema or yoga lesson. I absolutely understand that we are a social beings and that basically helped us to survive till this day and relationships are essential for our overall wellbeing, but some individuals like empaths, introverts or Highly sensitive people need this alone time - to think, process things and really tune in what is going on inside.

Without that it's hard for us to separate our feeling from feelings of others, it's hard to focus or even know what we truly want, or who we are, so we walk around filling those gaps around everyone else's e life... Like I did, "what would you like to eat and watch? " oh just whatever you want" not even thinking about my own needs!

Since I've been working hard on anxiety and self-development I actually can do things on my own, I would go alone with the intention of hanging out with myself to get to know this fascinating human being with who, I will spend the rest of my life, the only person which will be there till I take my last breath - how different this mindset is!

To compare - year ago, I went to "happy" festival with bunch of other ladies but we all went different ways - i felt completely out of place, anxiously checking my phone all the time to look busy, feeling weird as everybody had someone with them, it was too hot and I just wanted to go home.

This year few days ago I went to yoga festival on my own and although I did ask few people if they wanted to go, no one could so I thought its the best time to practice that self - discovery journey again, even when the last time wasn't too good.

It was really exciting but my first thought was that I have to be social and talk to strangers, Then I evaluated if that thought is even mine... Would I think that because society is pushing that on us all the time? Be interesting, be nice, be social, be likeable... ALL THE TIME AROUND PEOPLE!

So I simply decided to let go, before I went in, I set an intention to be just myself and if there is a an opportunity for a nice conversation and meet new people - absolutely yes but if not, I won't push that just because I'm scared to be the only one who is alone.

And i absolutely had an amazing time, few awesome conversations, met nice people but I also honoured my self, had nice lunch under the tree alone, wrote a poem, watched trees and birds - absorbing all that there was, in that given moment, so precious, so grateful. I didn't feel awkward or out of place, it was just the best.

So why you should do things on your own, specially as Sensitive type?

*To get to know yourself better

*To simply be in the present moment without a need to talk.

*To explore what your energy feel like

*To rest

*To experience new things and watch yourself reacting to them

*To get out of your comfort zone

*To build a self-trust, that you will always be okey, because YOU have your own back.

*To show your brain that there is nothing to worry about and kick anxiety ass!

*To understand that your sensitivity is your gift and you don't have to be this loud social butterfly, that's the job of other people. You can be soft and yourself and if it's s meant to be, you will meet this person or talk to someone. Just trust.

*To see that you are absolutely capable of meeting new people as an adult, even if it's hard.

*To have an opportunity to celebrate yourself for doing things on your own.

And much more...!

So today my little mindful task for you is to go somewhere on your own, I know we are often alone at home but try to get this new environment experience and take a notepad with you, write down everything that is happening inside you, are you anxious? Are you excited? Do you feel like you belong or out of place? Write it all down and accept - because it is all okey, hang out with yourself and get to know this magical being!

Take care,

Greta.