At the start of this year, I had an unusual New Year’s intention.

My resolution was to feel more intimacy with myself.

And no, I don’t mean in the bedroom (although it could be).

I mean creating the space to truly BE with myself without filling every moment with doing, numbing or distracting.

Intimacy for me means a deep connection or relationship with self or others. The word can also be broken down to be ‘into me you see’.

I never imagined this intention would be so hard, but living in the world we live in it takes an enormous amount of effort and discipline to truly be with ourselves in silence and or stillness.

And it is not just being with ourselves that is hard - it is challenging to be truly intimate with the people we love because they too are on the treadmill of distraction, screen addiction and attention deficiency.

Our attention is constantly pulled outside ourselves and towards the dopamine-inducing online world, which makes it so difficult to experience true connection.

The irony is that true connection is the source of our deepest joy - we are just searching for it in all the wrong places!

I feel a deep sense of concern for the future of humanity.

I feel concerned about our ever-growing dependency on a tiny screen, which will only become exponentially more enticing with AI. I feel a deep need for more spaciousness within ourselves and deeper connection and intimacy with those outside ourselves.

Take 2 minutes to watch this eye-opening animation.

Here are 8 simple ways you could be more intimate (in relationship) with yourself and those around you.

1. Create a daily meditation practice (or breathwork or mindful movement)  
2. Go out without your phone (regularly)  
3. Mindfully walk in nature as often as possible  
4. Set firm boundaries with screen time and have windows of non-tech time in the home for the whole family.  
5. Set your alarm during the day for mental breaks and have a mindful tea, or sit outside and practice some deep breathing.  
6. Journal your thoughts and feelings and spend time reflecting on your words  
7. Take phones off the table when you catch up with friends or family for drinks or meals.  
8. Connect with others on the path of growth, personal development, mindfulness and emotional agility (this is what we do in Living with Purpose)

Create the space for intimacy so that you can truly honour yourself and those around you. At the end of the day (or your life) true success is based on the lives you touched and the meaning you have discovered (in real life).

Send me a message and let me know what this article brought up for you?