I used to hate pickles.
Any take out or restaurant food was always promptly ordered without pickles, until one day, I tuned into my body & being (as is now routine for me) and I noticed I was CRAVING a damn pickle!
WHAT?! This was not just some childhood picky-eater dislike of this fermented food. I had tried them at various times through my adulthood, and maintained my dislike for everything about them.
Had I not already been on the path of conscious self-discovery, and in tune with my body’s wisdom, and if I had been set in my ways of “knowing” I don’t like pickles, I would probably have shaken it off, and never tried one…
But I tend to lean in the change-tolerant direction, am a naturally curious being, and am always open to learning more about myself & evolving. So, with little hesitation, I got a jar of dill pickles from the grocery store; and in less than a week, that (large) jar was gone.
I’m not eating pickles at quite the same rate these days, but it turns out the sodium and benefits of the pickle juice was actually super supportive for my own physical well-being! So much so, that I now have travel pickles for when I’m out and about for long periods of time.
I still think it’s wild that this craving, appeared, seemingly randomly and out of no where, after decades of being a no-go on pickled anything. But I also now see it as something my body needed. And further, I see how it could have been so easy to ignore, had I clung to my previously existing self-concept.
Self-concept is our personal knowledge of who we are, encompassing all of our thoughts and feelings about ourselves physically, personally, and socially. Self-concept also includes our knowledge of how we behave, our capabilities, and our individual characteristics.
And conscious self-discovery is essentially the journey to expand upon your own self-concept. It is the intentional process of exploring and understanding your true self on a deep, mindful level. It's about peeling back the layers of conditioned beliefs, societal expectations, and unconscious patterns to reveal your authentic self—your core values, desires, and purpose.
This journey is not just about self-awareness but about actively engaging with who you are and who you want to become (or conscious self-creation, as I like to call it).
While self-awareness is a key aspect of conscious self-discovery, it is not the only area of focus, or dimension of this work. So allow me to expand on what this concept and framework of conscious self-discovery means to me, and how I intend it:
Dimension 1: Personal Growth and Development
This facet of conscious self-discovery would include self-awareness, overcoming limiting beliefs, building self-confidence, and even setting and achieving goals. You might not think that goal setting requires a ton of self-discovery, but it bridges the gap between self-awareness and tangible personal growth. Setting actionable goals that work for YOU, is the key here.
Dimension 2: Emotional Healing
This part of conscious self-discovery could include elements like processing trauma, managing stress and anxiety, healing or improving relationships with others, and even navigating grief or loss.These can be sizeable pieces of the self-discovery journey, and new, distinguishing characteristics of self can emerge through focusing on this aspect.
"Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it."
— Rumi
Dimension 3: Spiritual Growth
Connecting to your inner wisdom, exploring spiritual beliefs, mindfulness and presence, and strengthening intuition are all part of the journey as well. We are spiritual beings, having a human experience; our authentic selves are spiritual in nature, so it’s only natural for part of the conscious self-discovery path to be spiritual growth and learning.
Dimension 4: Life Purpose and Direction
Discovering your calling, mission, or purpose makes up most of this aspect or dimension of conscious self-discovery. But life transitions, such as moving, new life stage, career transitions, etc and managing them also fall under this category of life purpose and direction, within conscious self-discovery framework.
Dimension 5: Creativity and Self-Expression
Creativity some might say is the ultimate authentic expression, so unlocking creativity and developing your authentic expression (both in personal and professional settings) are parts of this work as well.
Dimension 6: Physical Well-Being
Exploring the connection between physical health and emotional or spiritual well-being. By supporting your overall wellness through holistic health or well-being practices, like yoga, meditation, or energy healing, people often experience relief from symptoms, leading to greater emotional balance, clarity, not to mention overall well-being.
Dimension 7: Inner Peace and Balance
Cultivating inner peace and finding balance — these look different for everyone, so naturally a self-discovery process framework would incorporate finding or developing practices that allow for harmonious living.
And finally, Dimension 8: Relationship with Self
Arguably one of the most important, and influential dimensions of the intentional journey along the path of self-discovery. Whether it’s building self-love and compassion, establishing self-care practices, or learning boundary setting — all of this takes exploration and an understanding of YOU. And your relationship to self will be your longest lasting relationship in this lifetime, so wouldn’t it be easier to love yourself wholly?
As you probably have a grasp of by now, conscious self-discovery is a diverse, and deeply personal journey. One that offers profound transformation, growth, and healing across multiple areas of life.
"He who knows others is wise; he who knows himself is enlightened."
— Lao Tzu
Maybe it seems like a no-brainer that you’d want to step onto this path by this point, or perhaps not yet; but I truly get the sense that a lot of individuals do not have much interest in “bettering themselves,” in personal growth/development, or overall in conscious self-discovery. Or maybe I just spend too much time in the comment sections of the internet 😬
Yet still, many people seem quite content being who they think they are, without change, even if that “who” is comprised largely of a series of masks and conditioning playing out, over a lifetime.
"The greatest discovery in life is self-discovery. Until you find yourself, you will always be someone else. Become yourself."
— Myles Munroe
Perhaps growth-avoidant people are content in their ways because living a life that’s true to yourself takes courage.
It’s not always easy, and can often be anxiety-filled! And sometimes, it will cost you relationships, opportunities, and experiences. Although, I maintain that these people or opportunities weren’t meant for you anyways, if they crumbled at any hint of your ✨magnificent authenticity✨
I think it might be my own life experiences in interacting with death that makes the choice to intentionally and consciously be on this path of self-discovery easy for me. And a path that I want to be on forever (in this lifetime, at least.)
Look, life is short. Shorter than you think. Most folks don’t like to think about death, and this allows their lives to be shaped in ways that are less than authentic. But the tippy-top, number one regret of the dying?
“I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.”
And that’s not a regret I’m willing to leave this plane of existence with.
"The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are."
— Carl Jung
Plus, I’m naturally a wisdom seeker, and as Aristotle said:
Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.
And in Aristotle's philosophy, wisdom is not just theoretical knowledge but practical insight that guides moral and ethical decisions.
Following Aristotle’s philosophy here, in essence, conscious self-discovery not only benefits the individual by leading to a more fulfilled and authentic life… but this focus also has the potential to positively influence the broader world.
When individuals act from a place of wisdom, they are more likely to make decisions that honour the intrinsic value of all life, leading to actions that are in the best interest of the entire natural world. And when individuals act from a place of deep self-awareness, their decisions are more likely to reflect their core values, which often include respect for all forms of life.
We have the power to change so much in this world. And to dismantle the oppressive systems. And the work starts with YOU. With you re-connecting to your true nature.
Transforming the world starts with the self.
"Your visions will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes."
— Carl Jung
There are so many pathways in which you can engage with actively doing the work of conscious self-discovery! The way you get there will be up to you to uncover…
But I’ll share a few ideas to get you started:
1. Reflect and Go Inward
Sometimes the simplest way to start is by sitting with yourself. Journaling your thoughts, meditating, or just practicing mindfulness can create space to get curious about your inner world. You might be surprised by what bubbles up when you simply observe yourself without judgment.
If you’re new to meditation, I created a Magical 21-Day Meditation Experience to introduce you to, and guide you through 21 days of meditation. As well as give some teachings on the history and use of each style.
2. Heal What Hurts
Emotional healing is a huge part of this journey. Whether it’s through therapy, energy work like Reiki, or releasing trapped emotions with something like the Emotion Code, healing old wounds can free up so much energy for growth and self-understanding. It’s like clearing the clouds to see your true self more clearly.
I recommend finding a practitioner you feel drawn to, or that you resonate with! I’m also accepting new clients for energy healing work 😉
3. Explore Your Spiritual Side
If you feel drawn to explore something beyond the physical, connecting with your higher self, the universe, or spiritual guides can be a profound part of conscious self-discovery.
4. Get Support from a Guide
Sometimes, having someone walk with you on this journey can make all the difference. A guide or coach offers co-creative support as you explore your goals and face challenges. Think of it like having someone hold up a mirror for you, showing you different angles of yourself that you might not see on your own.
If this is work you’re serious about, I can’t recommend this option enough. If you’re ready to get started, I invite you to take a look at my Odyssey offering and feel into if it would be a great fit for you.
5. Create and Express
Ever notice how much you learn about yourself when you’re creating? Whether it’s through art, writing, music, or something else entirely, creative expression taps into parts of you that might not surface in everyday life. It’s a way of letting your true self speak without needing to use words.
6. Set Goals That Align with You
Goals aren’t just about productivity—they’re about aligning with what feels authentic to you. By setting goals that match your values and desires, you can bridge the gap between self-awareness and real, tangible growth. It’s a way of bringing your inner work into the outer world.
7. Nourish Your Body and Spirit
Don’t forget that your physical well-being is part of this too. Yoga, breathwork, or any kind of holistic practice can help you feel more connected to your body, which often brings clarity to your mind and spirit. When you nurture your whole self, everything feels more aligned.
8. Play with Spiritual Tools
Sometimes, tools like tarot, oracle cards, or astrology can act as little nudges from the universe, guiding you to reflect on parts of yourself you might not have considered. They’re not the answer themselves, but they can point you toward deeper questions—and that’s where the magic happens.
Ultimately, like I said, there’s no one way to do this—it’s your journey. Follow the whispers of your intuition and explore the paths that light you up. You’ll know you’re on the right track when it feels like coming home to yourself.
So — what questions do you have about the conscious self-discovery framework? Email me!