Meet your 'Realistic Ideal Self'
Today, you are invited to ‘Wake Up’ to different versions of yourself, to hone in on your realistic ideal self, and to choose which self image fits you, right now, as you move through this day.
To prepare for this exercise, gather 8 sheets of blank paper & your favorite writing and drawing implements.
You’ll also want to tap into your Transpersonal Self - that part of you that connects your personal self with that which is larger than yourself. How do you tap in & expand out? One of my favorite tools is from Mindfulness meditation: focus on the breath. I sometimes do this sitting still for 20-minutes with my eyes closed, or while driving (with my eyes open ;), or while dancing or walking… How would you like to tap in and expand out? Do it now!
Welcome back, my friend! Have you got your 8 sheets of paper and art tools? Let’s get started!
#1. Less than I am.
At the top of the first sheet of paper, write: Less than I am. Sit for a moment and contemplate an image of your self that you have, that is worse than what you believe is really true. When you have an image, draw it. You can write words too. Whatever you want to put on that sheet of paper is OK.
When you’re done, turn the page over. Sit for a full minute or more, breathing, until you’ve cleared that exercise out of your mind, and are open to a new one.
Now you’re ready for the next sheet of blank paper.
#2. Better than I really am.
At the top of the second sheet of paper, write: Better than I really am. Again, take the time to sit for a moment to contemplate an image of your self that you have, that is better than what you believe is really true. This will be an image of how you OVER value yourself. When you’ve got an image, words… draw it, write them.
When you’re done, turn this page over. Again, sit for a full minute or more, breathing, until you’ve cleared that exercise out of your mind, and are open to the new one.
#3. How I’d like to be.
On the next sheet of blank paper, write: How I’d like to be. This is your secret, daydream, glamorized, exaggerated version of yourself. Celebrate and revel in what comes up! Consider who you’d like to be, even though it may be unattainable and/or sterile. When you have an image(s), words, etc., transfer that (however it turns out) onto the paper.
When you’re done, turn this page over. Sit for a full minute or more, breathing, until you’ve cleared that exercise out of your mind, and are open to the new one. Don’t skip this step!
#4. How I’d like to appear to others.
At the top of this new sheet, write: How I’d like to appear to others… as opposed to how you really are. Follow the same procedure as above. Sit, contemplate, wait for an image, and draw it. It could be lines, color, words. It could make sense or not. Just put whatever comes to mind onto paper.
And then… clear it out.
#5. How others see me.
Write: How others see me. These can be images you like and/ or resent. Sit, compost, wait for it to emerge, transfer to paper. And then… clear it out.
#6. How others would like me to be.
Write the header: How others would like me to be. This will invoke images and/ or words of what others expect of you, and how they would like to change you. Sit. Wait for it. Draw/ write. Clear.
#7. How I would really & realistically like to be.
This is my favorite one! The header will read: How I would really & realistically like to be. This is the present model of who you are right now. Sit and breathe this one into image. Draw/ write it. And now, breathe INTO this.
#8. Being my realistic, ideal self in daily activities.
This time, visualize yourself as that (#7) model, doing normal daily activities, and draw or journal what that looks like.
* More thoughts
Some things to consider about this exercise:
There’s some truth in each of these self-images. They’re not ‘false’ models, but rather, they’re incomplete. This is especially true of models #1-6.
Every day, ask yourself: What am I capable of?
Every day, ask yourself: What model seems a good fit for me today, and then try to orient yourself from that model.
Ask yourself: Is that model who I really want to be today? If not, redirect yourself toward the Model you really want to be.
Every day is new. Every day it’s you. As best you can, choose.
Your choices make you who you will become.