Articulating a More Positive self-Identity. I like it. Here's why.

A Yoga Perspective

by Jennifer Rose & Better Existence | April 25, 2015

When I edited Articulating Strengths Together by Jerald Forster, my stepfather, the Yogini in me got very excited and interested in the practice of Strengths Articulation. So excited that I created a workshop that brought Dr. Forster and Swami Ma Sattvadevi together for a conversation about Strengths and Meditation in New York. 

That event was the beginning of a rich conversation between myself and my stepfather that is culminating in a new book that we are writing together. The book is about strengths articulation and identity. 

In a nutshell, strengths articulation is finding the best words to talk about what you like about yourself. This practice has a cumulative effect of improving positivity and positive self-regard. Well, it has for Professor Forster and myself, and we are currently welcoming case study participants, so email me if you are interested in seeing if this could work for you. 

How does this fit in with Yoga?

At it's heart, Yoga is about identity. The word Yoga can be translated as Yoke, and means yoking the individual consciousness to the Universal Consciousness. The central contemplative question of Yoga is Who am I? 

Simple question. But not easy to answer. For many Yogis, Universal Consciousness is a hypothetical notion. Contemplation and meditation are two methods of obtaining personal experience to test the hypothesis.

What makes meditation and contemplation difficult? One challenge is feeling overwhelmed by negative thoughts and feelings. Sometimes there is an idea that we cannot control our own mental negativity. We are at its mercy. Negativity in thoughts can translate into behaviors that either drown out negativity or act out negativity. Prone to habits, we get caught in a cycle of negative thoughts and actions. With a dash of shame thrown in. Spicy!

Feeling Good About Yourself Helps You Contemplate, Helps You Meditate, Helps You Do Yoga

A remedy for mental negativity that you might recognize if you are a studied Yogi yourself is: focusing on what is sattvic. "Sattvic" is an adjective that describes positive, uplifting attributes such as peacefulness, beauty, wisdom, clarity, and the like. Focusing a lot on these qualities in and around us may have a stabilizing effect. 

Strengths articulation is this kind of practice. It is a practice in giving our attention to positive feelings and positive ideas about who we are. Yes. It is okay to feel safe in your own brain, like you are likable, lovable, and admirable to yourself. You needn't tell the nay-sayers you are doing it. They might spit out insults like "narcissist," "ego-maniac" or if you are a Yogi, they might, sadly, accuse you of having "Ahamkara" issues. Who has time for this? 

Positive Self-Regard Is the Beginning

From a psychological point of view, I suppose healthy, positive self-regard and a positive mental environment is an end to itself. From a Yoga point of view, it is about mid-way on the journey of this "Who am I?" contemplation. Taking out our Kosha Map, we will be continuing to journey through intuitive intelligence, bliss, and finally arriving at our destination of Universal Consciousness, hypothetically. 

The benefits of reducing our burden of negativity, our fears, regrets, and anxieties are self-evident. Increasing our positivity, our acceptance, love, and joy sounds good. 

The experience of taking the reigns of one's thoughts, and transforming ones self-identity? To witness identity as a self-created malleable something; that is priceless. Through the simple and beneficial practice of strengths articulation you have this opportunity. Take it!