Becoming The Observer of Your Life

Here are some helpful steps to build personal awareness and practice observation to understand our true selves!

This post comes from our Australia contributor, Miann Scanlan. Follow along with her on Instagram @freepeopleaustralia!

Being the observer means noticing what we feel, think, do and imagine without being attached to the experience. When we examine ourselves objectively without getting caught up in what I refer to as the Ego, we can better determine if our actions are aligned with our authentic self.

To give you some background on what I mean when I talk about the Ego – the Ego is a spiritual concept that transcends many religions. I first learned of this while reading Eckhart Tolle’s book The Power of Now. Basically, Tolle describes the ego as our self-image, not our true self. The ego is characterized by labels, masks, images and judgments where, on the other hand, the true self is the field of possibilities, creativity, intentions and power. We can go beyond the ego through self-awareness – awareness of our thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and speech. And one way to silence the ego within me is by practicing self-observation.

Ask yourself “is this emotion/thought/feeling/action serving me?” Pose this question at every opportunity. Take a moment to be present, – this action of reflection will not only help you make mindful choices but, with time and repetition, you will become better acquainted with your authentic self.

Silence your inner critic. When you begin to consciously detach from thoughts or situations to observe, try to silence any negative thoughts or feelings you have about what you see. If you have negative thoughts, don’t buy into the ego by reacting, just simply observe.

Don’t be too loud and proud. The same way you must silence your inner critic (your ego), you must also not let your ego get too inflated. The goal here isn’t to condemn or praise yourself, but to simply become quietly aware.

Lovingly greet your regret. Regret is a key player in self-observation. We always wish we could have done, said or approached things differently. Greet your hindsight with loving and open arms, let go of feelings of regret and be grateful for any and all lessons learnt.

Journal your truths. After practicing observation at length, you will soon begin to find clarity and identify moments that feel authentic. These are your truths. The true you. Tap into that inspired feeling and record it to reference when you are feeling lost or need direction.

+What have you learned from observing a favorite experience?