In a world saturated by expectations and driven by social media and cultural constraints, it is important to stay true to who you are as a person. However, in our busy daily life, we often forget to give ourselves time. Time to connect with our inner emotions and our authentic self in order to find balance and serenity.

For me, it has always been quite difficult to find balance in my life while handling a full-time school schedule, an internship, work, and a healthy social life. About two months ago, I began to feel very disconnected with myself. I made time for everyone and everything except for myself, and after a while, it got really overwhelming because I started to lose focus of my goals and who I was.

I knew some things had to change, and so I began to read many books on mindfulness and Buddhist teachings and on one of them I found a quote by Buddha that really struck out to me: "We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make the world."

It was then that I began to pay attention to what was actually happening to me and I began to crave a profound connection with myself because I knew that it was the only way I would find serenity and balance. From my experience, I found that these five things have helped and continue to help me maintain a profound connection to my emotional self and ability to grow into my authentic self.

1. Sit In silence

Silence is an empty space, space is the home of an awakened mind. - Buddha

It is when we shut the noise of the world around us that we begin to listen to what our mind, body, and soul are trying to communicate to us. Taking time from your day to simply just exist in the realm of your surrounding can help you maintain an authentic relationship with yourself.

I believe that establishing a profound connection to our authentic self is about giving yourself time to get to know yourself, time to shut the world around you and simply just breathe, exist, hear your heartbeat. For me, the night has always been the best time to sit in silence, close my eyes, and begin to shut any thoughts coming in and out. I focus on my breath and the sound of my heartbeat, and after a few minutes, their rhythm brings me tranquility.

2. Acknowledge Your Thoughts and Pay Attention

Thoughts fuel emotion. - Buddha

For a very long time, I struggled with paying attention to my thoughts and emotions. I often pushed them aside and worried about my present activities and life.

However, soon I began to notice that I was bottling up emotions and much too often I felt upset and moody and I couldn't pinpoint why. From a quote I read from Buddha, "Thoughts fuel emotion," I began to think about the way I was handling my emotions and thoughts on issues that bothered me, and soon enough I began to try a new method.

Every time my thoughts feel like they are clouding my mind, whether they are good or bad, at the end of my day I allow my self to acknowledge what I'm feeling and simply address those feelings the best way I can. Sometimes it also helps me to call someone I trust and talk about them. I believe that talking your feelings through with someone—or that person can even be yourself—it helps you take into account what it is that you are feeling and what it is that you need to do.

3. Do What Makes You Happy

Happiness is a choice, not a result. - Buddha

Whether it is walking along the shoreline, practicing a sport, singing and dancing in your room, reading a book, eating your favorite dessert, writing, or watching a movie, just do it. Life is way too short for us to live constrained by our busy schedules; it is important to find a bit of time to engage in the things that make us happy.

When we engage in things that make us smile and laugh, it is the best therapy you will get, because it is in these moments that we feel most alive. Happiness, in my opinion, comes from within; it is our responsibility to assure that we are happy. No matter the situation you are in, it is in your hands to choose happiness.

4. Practice Self-Love

You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection. - Buddha

I often feel like this can be the hardest thing for us all, not only because we tend to give our love to others but also because we don't know how to. Well, I've found that it is quite simple. Forgive yourself, nourish your body, allow yourself to be spiritual whether that'd be through religion or simple meditation, but most of all don't allow yourself to be bullied by your thoughts.

5. Sit In Nature

If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly, our whole life would change. - Buddha

One of my favorite things to do is sit in nature, whether that'd be walking by the ocean, sitting on a bench in the park, or watching the flowers around me and admiring the way bees move from one to another so gracefully. Spending time in nature helps us understand the simplicity of life and I think it even makes us appreciate our lives.

I often love sitting at a park and taking photos of the animals and plants and flowers around me, as I always feel like they help me cope with what's happening around me. They exist so peacefully and their existence makes me think about the incongruity of my position in the world, and just like that, all of a sudden, my problems seem so insignificant.

I think it is important for us to listen to what our body needs, what our mind is struggling with, and what our hearts are feeling. Allow yourself to feel your emotions, shut the world around you, engage in the things that calm and nourish your soul.

Laugh out loud, dance, experience life in your own way doing the things that make you happy. But never forget to look around you and also experience the natural world that makes up your space. It is these small things that can allow us to flow with serenity and inner peace in a world full of chaos.