How Women Can Learn to Trust Themselves Again: Daily Self-trust Practices for Reconnecting Within
As women, we move through the world with an inner light that guides us along the way. This light is what shines through when we truly trust ourselves. However, over time, this self-trust can diminish due to years of burnout and may lead to you feeling completely disconnected from yourself. This may look like overthinking or second-guessing a decision, or simply not feeling like yourself. But the good news is that through persistent self-trust practices, you can find a way back to yourself!
Why Self-Trust Is Essential for Women’s Well-Being
Self-trust is the deep, internal knowledge that tells you that you can rely on yourself. According to research, it is an individual's own ability to navigate their life’s challenges and make sound decisions. For women especially, self-trust is all about personal instincts, feelings, and inner wisdom. This means that despite living in a world that expects so much from you, you are able to make decisions that truly reflect your inner self!!
Self-trust practices are especially important for women because without them, they may feel lost in this world that expects so much from them. Self-trust not only restores their sense of agency but leads them onto a path of physical, social, and emotional well-being.
The Need for Self-Trust Practices: How We Lose Trust In Ourselves Over Time
Self-trust does not disappear over time. Rather, it is slowly worn down by years of caregiving and putting others’ needs first. Women are seen as caregivers and often expected to put everyone else’s needs before their own. This leads them to sideline their own desires, staying silent to avoid conflict or simply being available for everyone despite not having the energy for it. Moreover, major life transitions such as motherhood or a new job require so much time and strength that women end up losing themselves in the middle of it.
These patterns are often dictated by societal pressure, social conditioning, and a lifetime of people-pleasing. Over time, in between the noise of the world, women forget to listen to themselves. They slowly lose connection with their own inner selves, and this is why self-trust practices are so essential. They offer a gentle, consistent way to return to your voice, your needs, and your truth!
5 Signs You Might Be Ready For Gentle Self-Trust Practices
Second-Guessing
You find yourself second-guessing yourself even if it’s a small decision, such as what to eat or how to reply to a message.
Reliance On External Validation
Instead of trusting your own opinions, you find yourself relying on others’ opinions and validations for decisions pertaining to your life.
Feeling Emotionally Numb
It feels harder for you to figure out your own feelings. You feel emotionally numb and out of touch with your thoughts.
You Always Say Yes
Instead of forming firm boundaries, you find yourself people-pleasing and saying yes to everything, even when you don’t want to.
Overthinking
A big sign of wearing self-trust is struggling to connect with your gut instincts. You start overthinking and feel stuck in your head.
Keeping Self-Trust Practices Gentle
It is very easy to fall into the trap of turning self-trust into a project. This may stem from our collective mindset of perfectionism. This is where we try to do everything by the book, follow a checklist, or a routine that will help us achieve what we want to. But this is the mindset that we need to try to unlearn as women. Self-trust isn’t built through rigid routines or pressures; rather, it grows slowly over time.
The more gentle and simple your self-trust practices are, the more likely that they will eventually become a part of your life. Self-trust practices shouldn’t be another source of guilt or overwhelm in your lives, but a foundation for reconnecting with your inner self.
7 Daily Self-Trust Practices To Begin With
Body Check-Ins
In the mornings, always start slow. Take 1-2 minutes to pause, breathe, and ask yourself, ‘How am I feeling today?’ This makes you aware of your own physical and emotional cues.
Micro-Decisions
It is very important to trust yourself with making decisions, no matter how small they are. Thus, begin by making one small decision every day, even if it’s about what you want to have for lunch that day.
Journaling
To truly build self-trust, you need to know how you’re feeling. The uncensored, truest version of your thoughts! And it helps to write them down in a journal, even if it seems messy or unclear to you.
Gentle Affirmations
Women do so much in the world, but receive very little praise. And this can lead to self-doubt. Thus, it is important to appreciate yourself. Studies suggest that women who practice self-compassion tend to have higher self-esteem.
Daily Movements
Knowing your body is also an essential part of reconnecting with yourself. A small walk in the park, or a yoga session, helps you feel truly in control of your body. It helps you stay grounded.
Breath Awareness Breaks
When you feel overwhelmed, pause and take 3 deep breaths. This will allow you to return to yourself.
Mirror Moment
Take out a minute to stand in front of the mirror every day and say something kind to yourself. Acknowledgement begins from within.
A ‘Yes’ list
There are so many things that women want to do for themselves, but never get the opportunity to. Create a list in which you write about everything that you truly did for yourself, like grabbing a cup of coffee. This tells you that your choices matter.
How Self-Trust Practices Help You Meet Triggers with Curiosity
Self-trust practices require time and patience. Once you start showing up for yourself with consistency, you will realize how that changes your relationship with your inner self.
At Rooted Rhythm, we believe that every woman deserves to feel safe and confident in navigating everyday challenges. And if you’re unable to do it alone, then we are here to help you with tools and practices that meet you where you are, with gentleness.
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