For my Coaching dissertation, I briefly touched upon the subject of the artificially created 'I' identity. 

The illusion that I exist as a separate being.

We all live our lives based on this sense of separation. And to achieve and preserve that state of existence, we create boundaries and limits that give us a sense of control and uniqueness.

Yet, strangely enough, I haven't encountered a single person who isn't trying to break barriers and doesn't yearn for deep connections. To reach over those boundaries and feel a sense of belonging, space where they feel at ease, rested even...

In our self-imposed separation, we long for the opposite. 

Nowadays, there is a lot of inner work around themes like 'discover yourself', 'unleash your potential', 'do what feels good to you'.

I LOVE that kind of work, in fact, I aim to make a living doing what I do best. 

That got me thinking, why do so many people experience slow progress in this regard?  

I mean if we ask good questions, don't we know quite quickly or even instinctively what we desire? What we want to do next? Or simply who we are and how we'd like things to turn out?

Turns out, yes we do but getting there, not so much.

For each of us to truly emerge and BEcome our true expressions, we are dependent on interactions and connections with others. 

The 'I' exists only in relation to something (someone) else.

There lies, I think, the biggest self-improvement hurdle. 

When there is a deep and complete exchange of two entities, there is a vibrational boom that allows each to express their truth. And through that they become more of who they are meant to be.

But in a world where everything is a calculated exchange, it turns out we aren't allowing for these deep interactions. We don't show ourselves fully, we don't show up with everything we have. 

This is touted as a revolutionary method of Spirituality for a whole lot of reason but primarily because it empowers the individual to find unity with source energy and so much so that nothing or no one else is needed in this journey. 

Self-Enquiry is the method of bringing awareness to the awareness. The subject and the object of the enquiry are one and the same. 

It is a mature practice and requires us to turn our attention and curiosity inwards to our true nature. 

The most popular question that comes with this method is, 'Who Am I?'

Observing, noticing and contemplating the answer and thoughts to that question is what the Self-Enquiry process is all about. 

*Ramana Maharishi recommended the process.  

But what are its implications in our daily life? How can we apply this technique?

There are a few things to keep in mind if we are to use the process to uncover our deepest nature and beliefs:

• The answer cannot be sought using a rational mind. It's not black and white. Preferences, beliefs, and thoughts manifest in variations based on the situations. 
• You must approach this with a sense of wonderment. Any fixed ideas of what you know must be abandoned and be willing to receive information.
• Love needs to be at the heart of the process. A compassion for the true nature.
• Follow intuition and it's guidance.  There is an element of surrender to the flow of thought. You don't engage anything but just notice and let go. 

Although the spiritual practice is all about spending time holding an awareness to your awareness, there are a few benefits of using this technique to achieve breakthroughs in everyday life. 

• Uncover the triggers of your actions
• Discover your beliefs, limitations, preferences
• Identify unresolved issues and connections
• Segregate things that are in the vortex and aligned with what's not
• Contemplate areas of improvement, change or opportunities

​Not only does this process allow you to get more aligned and understand your true nature but you will notice you are able to forgive, release and heal better.

​The trivial nature of things reveal themselves and with that, you are able to focus your energy of things that make you happy and joyous. 

Beginners Practice:

1. Find a quiet spot where you can be for at least 10 mins
2. Sit in a relaxed, upright position. Take a deep breath and center yourself
3. Start observing the thoughts that flow through you. With every thought, ask yourself, What is this? Is this me? Don't engage a story line but use your intuition to listen for answers. 
4. Release the thought, let it go. Do not analyze and try to 'make sense' of the thought. 
5. From time to time, you might find that you are engaged in internal dialogue, bring yourself back and just observe the next thought that comes to you. 

The most important thing to bring to the practice is a sense of detachment. Over time you will find revelations come and go, the thinking reduces and the mind quietens to give way to intuition. 

​Written with Love!