Who are you expected to be?
From the moment we are born, we are often shaped by the identities and expectations that our parents and family members impose on us, leaving us with little choice.
Many of these hopes and dreams reflect the unfulfilled aspirations of our parents, rooted in their own childhood experiences. Additionally, parents are influenced by cultural norms and traditions that have been passed down through generations.
This cycle continues, as parents perpetuate the same pressures onto their children…
What do you want to be?
Societal expectations also play a significant role in shaping our identities.
For instance, how often were you asked as a child: “What do you want to be when you grow up?”
If we think about this question, it suggests that we need to become something other than who we already are. This notion can be limiting and discouraging. Why should we feel the need to change or become someone else?
Perhaps the true purpose of life is to embrace who we already are.
Who do you want to be?
Throughout our lives, we are encouraged to identify with something beyond ourselves – whether it’s a football team, beloved TV character, a celebrity, a musician, or a famous motivational speaker.
However, what we often miss is the same encouragement to simply be ourselves, flaws and all.
While it’s true that humans have a natural desire to improve, what if we focused instead on comparing ourselves only to who we were yesterday, a month ago, or a year ago? If that were enough, how would it change our lives?
Yearning for things
As we transition into adulthood, society tells us that we need to “get a good job.” The prevailing belief is that a well-paying job will lead to owning a nice house, driving a nice car, going on nice holidays, and having nice things. The mindset is deeply ingrained in us from childhood, steering our focus toward external achievements while causing us to forget who we really are.
Many people are consumed by their work, always pushing to achieve more and seeking approval from their employers. They often want recognition through promotions or financial rewards, enduring significant stress as they make themselves available to meet job demands around the clock. Some employers even encourage this mindset, making such expectations clear in employment contracts. Despite this being treated as the norm, we rarely pause to consider the toll this lifestyle takes on our well-being over time.
How does floating help?
One wonderful aspect of floating is that it offers a peaceful escape from the pressures of work.
For a full hour, you can step away from your phone, emails, and the constant worries about upcoming meetings and responsibilities that weigh heavily on your mind.
If you’ve experienced floating before, you may find that stepping into the pod feels surprisingly familiar and comforting. There’s an element of excitement at the prospect of laying back in the warm and welcoming water, allowing all your stresses and worries to simply melt away.
Finding perspective
During this time, something special can happen. Either you start to see your problems in a funnier, less serious way, or you figure out exactly what you need to do to solve them, enabling you to emerge from your float knowing how to handle and overcome any challenges you are facing.
Connecting with yourself
It is important to remember that when you truly relax, you can connect with yourself in a new way. It’s a way that goes beyond your daily work and the feeling that you always need to be “doing” something, as opposed to relishing in the delight of just “being”. This connection is special and needs to be experienced to be understood.
The more deeply you relax and explore your inner self, the easier it becomes to see beyond the limits you have created for yourself, usually ones which were constructed during childhood in order to please others.
The deep relaxation evoked from time spent in the pod, provides you with the freedom to truly meet yourself, exactly as you are.
It is possible to reinvent yourself in any way you wish to, when you are able to enter a deeper level of awareness, a place where you feel safe, loved and complete.
