Red Flags — What About Your Own?

 

We are always so quick to look for red flags in other people. In relationships, in friendships, in the workplace, we've become almost hyper-vigilant about spotting warning signs in those around us. 

But what about ourselves?

When I wake up feeling down, or "off," or just out of sorts, those are red flags for me. And just like any other red flag, they deserve attention.

The problem is that most of us were never taught to look inward. We were taught to react, to the world around us, to other people, to circumstances. Turning that awareness back on yourself is actually a skill, and like any skill, it takes practice.

The first thing I do when I notice that something feels off is think about what I'm thinking about. It sounds simple, almost too simple, but you'd be surprised how often that's exactly where the answer is hiding. A worry you've been pushing aside. A conversation that didn't sit right. An expectation you didn't realize you were carrying.

If the answer isn't there, I start paying attention to what's around me, my environment, my relationships, any situation I'm currently navigating. Usually something surfaces.

Here's what I've found: just knowing the why behind a feeling can bring enormous relief. Not because it fixes everything, but because it transforms something vague and unsettling into something you can actually work with. A feeling without a name has a lot of power over you. A feeling you understand, a little less so.

So the next time you feel off, before you look outward, look in.