If you’re reading this post, I have a sneaking suspicion that you might be interested in something that I’m a big fan of….Exploration. The spirit of Exploration brings with it feelings of new-ness, adventure, curiosity. And whether you’re exploring a new city, new neighborhood, new restaurant, new idea, thought or routine, there is often an openness – more willingness to get away from the black & whites or the ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ way of doing something. Instead, to look for nuances, secret hideaways and possible new pathways.

One area that we might sometimes forget to bring in this Exploration spirit is with ourselves. When it comes to the rich areas of our inner selves, we are often quick to judge, to criticize or ‘know’ before we ‘know’. When we skip over Exploring ourselves, we miss out on a beautiful process AND a beautiful opportunity to know and accept ourselves on a deeper level. If that sounds heavy or scary, don’t worry. It doesn’t have to be – and as you probably know, the Mood Ladies and I aren’t big fans of scary or heavy. Using your Explorer Self actually makes things pretty easy.

When we use our Explorer Spirit for anything, including ourselves, the main thing we’re doing is observing. We’re gathering information and enjoying being exposed to what we see – it gives us even more facts. We might learn a new way or perspective or we might gain further evidence of what we already know.

This week, you’re invited to go on an Exploration Expedition within. Below are two ways you might like to do this. Try the one that calls you most or if you’d like, do both!

1. What makes you YOU? Think back on some of the things in your life that you’re most proud of – accomplishments, achievements, a role you have or anything else. Now, take a few moments to think about what traits inside you have made those things possible. Make a little mental or written note for yourself. You might come up with things like Creativity, Commitment, Drive, Trust, Perseverance or loads of others. What do you notice when you take some time to observe, acknowledge and even celebrate some of those traits inside of you? Continue this process and see what you uncover. Is there one of these traits you’d like to explore more or perhaps nurture even more?

2. We sometimes like to skip past things about ourselves that we think are less positive or are undesirable. We might want to try to forget about them or deny them, but what often happens is that by not acknowledging them they gradually start making more noise than ever. That’s why seeing these traits, too, as beautiful gems of information can be so helpful. Take a moment to think of something within you that you often try to ignore or sweep past. Perhaps it’s a perfectionist tendency, jealousy, impatience, anger.

Now instead of judging these, just observe and look at them with the eyes of a traveler seeing a new sight. What does this little trait want you to know right now? Is it telling you something useful? Is it true what it says? What happens when you shine a little Exploration light on this trait or area without making it wrong, but instead with the sole purpose of gathering the information that this particular gem is offering you?

Feel free to experiment with these two exercises this week and leave any questions or comments in the Reply box below.