It happens when you least expect it, the losing of oneself. It can happen in the most mundane moments. The moments in between the big stuff. The moment when you choose to neglect your needs instead of prioritizing yourself. The moment when you stay silent in an argument instead of voicing your opinion. The moment when you chase a dream that’s not for you, because you want to please someone around you. We lose ourselves in those simple moments the same way that the moon fades with the sunrise, slowly at first until we can no longer see who we are.

You cannot become who you are truly meant to be, if you do not take the time to get to know who you are. Deep self-reflection is the way we open hearts and remember the very essence of our soul. Learning to connect with yourself on a deeper level is one of the most important steps in self-discovery.

You cannot live your best life, if you're not being your best self. You need to learn to give yourself permission to put YOU first. To acknowledge what you need and to show up for yourself. To get to know yourself on a deeper level. A level that allows you to love yourself and everything that makes you, you.

Love YOU. Nourish YOU. Be friends with YOU. Embrace YOU.

Journaling is meant to be a tool on your journey to discovering your authentic self so sit down, breathe and get ready to remember who you truly are.

Here are 10 Powerful Self-Discovery Journal Prompts to get you started.

Self-abandonment happens when we ignore our own needs and silence our inner desires. Driven by our deep seeded need to please, we set aside our own wants to prioritize the happiness of others. This type of behavior causes us to lose our voices, our sense of self, and our personal identity. Self-abandonment is the first step down the wrong path in life.