SELF AWAKENING

Coming into one’s self: fully embracing the mind, body and spirit. It is one of the most awakening experiences one can go through. Self-growth comes in many forms and takes us through different chapters of life; we see it in almost every aspect at one point or another. Your development is not going to look identical to that of the person next to you — everyone’s journey is unique and complex.

Self-growth can be something as simple as changing your style or as deep as discovering your spirituality or religion. It is a process that may change throughout your entire life, coming out in big ways in some areas of yourself and more subtly in others. It can be enlightening and relieving yet confusing and frustrating. Through the process of growth, we can take on many different identities that often change and intertwine into each other.

There are also many social pressures that may impact our personal growth. Society often influences how we dress, what we say, what we eat, etc., and always seems to try and confine us to a small box. However, we are the ones that give society power. We are in control of how we respond to the overwhelming pressure and whether or not to let them affect us. It is easy to blend into the crowd and silence your true self, but part of the journey is learning how to embrace it.

No one wants to be judged or feel like they don’t belong, as it can cause you to feel ashamed of who you are. Growing up, we all experienced that feeling, whether from our friends, parents, teachers, bosses, siblings, etc. Most of us probably even remember a comment word-for-word that hurt us and created an insecurity we still have today. What’s even worse, the person who said it might not even know how much damage their words inflicted on your self-esteem. Words leave a lasting impact on people and can affect their mental and physical health or may halt their self-growth.

One major part of the self-growth journey is spirituality. Many confuse spirituality with religion, thinking they are one in the same. Yet, you can be very spiritual while not being religious, and vice versa. Spirituality revolves around the soul and believing that there is more to you than what lies on the surface. It is one of the deepest parts of our being. It affects our mind and body and the way we view life and those around us. It may be difficult to understand, yet it is the basis of most of our beliefs and values.

Life is not linear; our lives are not all on the same track nor do they go in a straight line. It is more of a messy, wild, up-and-down roller coaster. Some of us will first experience our self-awakening at a young age or in our teenage years while others might not experience it until later in life. It is important to understand that while someone’s journey might look different than yours, neither one is better or worse than the other.

Self-awakening is a beautiful experience, both the good and bad. Though the process may be challenging, the outcome is incredibly impactful. Our life is our own, not anyone else’s. Do not spend your life trying to please others, and instead, spend it doing whatever makes you feel most fulfilled.

STYLE: ANNA WEBBER WORDS: ANNA TRAVER PHOTO: GEORGE PHAM GLAM: MORGAN LYNCH SET DESIGN: ANNA WEBBER, MARIA VITALE & KATHRYN REMY LOCATION: CEDAR STREET ART COLLECTIVE

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