Learning To Honor My Higher Self

Have you ever had a conversation with someone that made you feel very uncomfortable, upset, even angry, to the point where you could feel their negative, toxic energy attaching to you? I certainly have, more times than I care to remember.

This feeling of extreme discomfort is usually a clear sign that the interaction you are having with this person is going against your higher self. Yet, even though we are aware of this on some level, we often fail to do what is right for our highest good and instead continue to interact with the energy thief in question to our own detriment.

Truth be told, I have been guilty of this myself many times. Only to face the aftermath of unhappiness and disappointment for not honoring my higher self.

I have recently become increasingly aware of this personal failing and have been actively working to identify my motives for putting and keeping myself in these situations.

I have come so far in my quest for increased self-awareness and spiritual growth that I am willing to explore and deal with the deepest corners of my soul-self. True enlightenment is not only about our brightest achievements, but also about our darkest inner shadows.

In this process of self-discovery, I began to notice that I tend to experience these feelings of higher self ‘betrayal’ whenever I interact with certain people in my life. However, since it is no longer my intention to hold others responsible for my manifestations, I am forced to ask myself why this always happens when I interact with them. What is it about me that keeps manifesting these toxic interactions?

Sometimes we don’t understand the full picture of why we need to do what we feel led to do. Our job is simply to have the courage to honor what our soul is saying ~ Laurie E. Smith

I then realized that the problem was rooted in the simple fact that these were all people with whom I was trying my best to create or maintain a bond of friendship that probably no longer existed, or never existed in the first place.

I also realized that there was a part of me that was afraid of being rejected if I did not agree or align with their views, opinions, and perceptions of other people and the world we live in.

I then made a solemn pact with myself that in the future I would make every effort to be true to myself and honor my higher self in every interaction I have with others, no matter who it is.

However, this does not require me to be argumentative, stubborn, obnoxious, or high-maintenance. Instead of escalating the situation, I must simply pay close attention to how I intuitively feel and ask myself the all-important question: Is this serving my higher self? If not, then I need to calmly choose the best way to deal with the situation rather than going along with it against my better judgment.

I have since discovered many constructive ways to deal with challenging social situations.

The first important thing for me is to maintain self-control; to be proactive rather than reactive. I have learned to take a few deep breaths before doing anything.

Don’t let others box you into their idea of what they think you should be. A confined identity is a miserable way to exist. Be you and live free. Trust that in living true to yourself, you will attract people that support and love you, just as you are ~ Jaeda DeWalt

Next, I carefully consider whether to stay in the situation or walk away. Some people are just not worth getting involved with. I am learning more and more to pick my battles wisely and maintain a healthy distance from those who drain my energy.

In situations with less toxic people, I will calmly express my own views and opinions. The secret is to take control of the interaction by setting boundaries and steering the conversation in a more constructive direction. The way to do this effectively is to not make it personal, but to focus on the topic of the conversation and the facts at hand. I also find that a little humor can go a long way in disarming difficult people and shining a light on the truth.

It may seem like a lot of effort to keep your cool in this way, but the renewed sense of integrity, self-empowerment, and being true to your higher self is worth it every time.