Limit the input

Does this headline sound contradicting to you for a blog that is predominantly about personal growth? Definitely read on.

Over the past 4 years, I’ve been diving deeper into myself, also referred to as personal development. I reflected not only on myself, my fears and my limitations, but also on how this showed in my relationships, with friends, family and partners.

On this journey – which is an ongoing process – I have learned a lot about myself. I was able to dissolve certain behavioural patterns that were limiting me due to underlying fears. I tuned deeper into my body to let go of tensions that have been building up and manifesting in my body for way too long. I work with coaches both personally and professionally to become the best version of myself. I completed an NLP training to improve my communication skills, to dive deeper into self-reflection and to change patterns that didn’t serve me any more with the clear objective to build a life that I really want to live.

So far so good. I believe that this ongoing journey of self-reflection and self-development is awesome. I  really wouldn’t change a thing looking back. It all served its purpose; every single change, every heartbreak, every challenge that I encountered in my life so far, were signs of the universe to correct my course; by looking deeper, by understanding and by initiating change.

More sensitivity

What I am also observing whilst being on this journey is that I’ve become way more sensitive with all my senses. I hear more, I see more, I feel more. I’d even say I smell and taste more thanks to my work with dōTERRA essential oils.

To really break this down for you, I hear people talking, the bells of the church, sirens, cars, children, water flowing, my steps on the ground, my diffuser running. I hear podcasts, audios and music. I hear myself talking. I could keep going.

I see more. My vision has expanded. I perceive more people in the tube and also what they do. I see the trees moving in the wind, children playing in the streets, people drinking coffee, I see people looking at other people, I observe couples walking hand in hand, I see the sun, the moon and the sky being in movement.

I feel more. I’ve become way more kinaesthetic, I’ve improved my awareness of the position and movement of the parts of my body. I can feel tension way quicker and I do know how to release it faster. I perceive (more) vibes from other people, their feelings, their energies, their current state of being. Again, I could keep going.

More input – more output?

My point is that this increased awareness also means that I sometimes must limit the input, as otherwise it becomes too overwhelming. At a certain point in a certain phase, more input simply doesn’t mean more output. It is essential at this point to limit the input and to focus on processing and digesting all of it. I am only human, as are you, so I figured it’s okay to limit my input.

How?

By closing my eyes just like on the pic. By spending more time by myself. I have noticed that I need more me-time and less together-time when in a phase of limiting input. This means that I would have lunch breaks on my own instead of going with others. I’m not going out a lot at the moment and unfortunately I haven’t been dancing a lot lately. Yes, it is a process of withdrawing myself, and whilst I’ve had phases where I didn’t even understand why I was doing it, I am now fully embracing my need of being alone. Depending on the current life and business set up, the people surrounding me do not always understand my behaviour and my withdrawal, which in return isn’t always easy for me to accept. Yet, I’m learning and growing through this process and I accept that this is part of my personal journey, too and that I do not have to or want to justify for that. It is what I need.

And it’s okay!

I’ve for sure learned that it is okay for me to withdraw myself, if it all gets too much. I’m understanding that my increased awareness and self-reflection led me to being a more sensitive human being called Nina. Whilst in the past I was 90% outgoing, social and extroverted, I am now in need of downtime and quiet time, too. These two facets allow me a better balance in life, more time to process and digest situations, and very importantly, more self-love. I’m freeing myself as much as possible from the opinion of others when it comes to my health and my wellbeing. No, it’s not always easy, but you gotta do what is right, not what’s easy.

Go with what you need!

When I feel the need to socialise, I will. When I feel the need to be alone, I will. When I feel the need to be active, I will. When I feel the need not to talk about certain topics, I won’t. When I feel the need to set boundaries, I will. When I feel the need to speak up, I will. And no, this is never against someone or something, it just means I follow up on what I need and follow through with it.

You can do this, too. Limit your input when you feel like it and don’t feel bad for it.

Love,

yours Nina

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Why personal growth?

I’m so happy to have started my journey of personal growth, which I love calling my inner journey.

Yes, it’s hard sometimes to intensively reflect yourself, to tune into your body, to observe your thoughts and emotions, but it’s so worth it and your growth never stops.

It is a process.

The word ‘Personal Growth’ has become a much deeper meaning for me over the last couple of years since I have been diving deeper into my personal growth. In this blog post, I want to share some success stories with you, to inspire you to start walking and to keep going, even if you might think at some point:

What did I get myself into?

My first success relates to my sensory channels and my perception. I knew that my visual sense was already strongly developed, but thanks to my yoga teacher training my kinaesthetic sense unfolded, too. And just to clarify, doing my yoga teacher training was already a beautiful result of my personal growth. With two strongly developed senses and a better perception of myself, I noticed that my auditive channel however was slightly underdeveloped. Which brings me to my success: I’m treating myself and others more consciously, with even more love and respect. I see more, I feel more and after months of sharpening my perception skills, I also hear and listen more. It is so enriching to give my life more depth and meaning by the power of personal growth and better perception skills.

My second success story relates to my linguistic skills. Thanks to my better perception, I have also been able to improve my possibilities and means of expression, both verbally and non-verbally. The beautiful thing is it’s not only me feeling that my communication have become clearer, it is also acknowledged by others. Especially in moments and conversations when I was truly present, with all my senses. This is really the key to everything, to be present in the here and now. For example, if you have a conversation with someone, really focus on that person, avoid distractions, look at the person, listen and gradually feel into the person. I know it is not always easy, but start by bringing your awareness to your perception. Speaking of communication… I am a communicative person, hence it’s also a success for me to see, feel and hear, when it’s better not to say anything and to stay in silence. Who can relate?

Talk is silver, silence is golden.

Train your perception, because this is where communication begins. Always.

When it comes to communication, I also increasingly notice, especially when overhearing conversations in cafés, how many conflicts and misunderstandings simply derive from a different perspective of life. You must know that each person has their own individual perception, hence everyone sees the world differently. Everyone has a different map of reality. Does this make sense?

The map is not the territory. (Alfred Korzybski)

This phrase illustrates the differences between belief and reality. Our perception of the world is generated by our brain. Every perception, every map looks differently.

I understand more than ever that there is no such thing as compartmentalisation. No right or wrong. There are simply different perceptions based on education, values, culture and developed belief systems.

With my personal growth journey, my understanding for the other side of the medal has dramatically improved. I feel more relaxed, probably because I am fighting less for my perception of the world, but instead regard other perceptions as incredibly exciting and inspiring.

Last but not least I record as success what Mahatma Gandhi already said:

You must become the change you wish to see in the world.

I understood that I am responsible for my life, only me. I also realised that we as human beings have the wonderful capability to impact the pathways of our brain in order to overwrite negative and unwanted emotions, behaviours and actions with something positive. We can change our lives from negative to positive. Isn’t that amazing?

Of course, it’s always easier to blame someone else in a difficult situation, but nothing will ever change, if you don’t start with yourself first. My change and personal development clearly shows the positive shifts in my life, by starting with myself. By changing myself and my perception of reality. I extended my map of reality by reflecting myself and my environment. So as a result I notice immediately when I am reacting and acting based on one of my automatisms. Then I can intervene consciously, I say ‘Stop’ and make a new and better choice.

Like Lao Tse said:

Every journey begins with a single step.

I understood that this first step needed to come from me. And so my personal growth journey started.

I want to inspire you to start walking and to keep walking. The process never stops. And it is such a blessing to develop and to grow. Trust me, life holds so much love and joy, once you start walking. What’s holding you back?

Yours, Nina