We all have patterns—ways we react when we feel hurt, afraid, unseen, or out of control.

Sometimes those patterns serve us. Sometimes they sabotage the very connection we long for. At Common Thread, we’ve found that spiritual transformation doesn’t come from trying harder or pretending we’re not triggered—it comes from gently noticing what’s going on beneath the surface. That’s what the Self-Awareness Practice is for.

It’s a tiered process, depending on what your aim is. In all cases, it starts with a moment of presence. We slow down. Breathe. Feel our feet on the ground. Then, with curiosity (not judgment), we reflect on a recent moment when we reacted in a way that surprised us—maybe we lashed out, shut down, over-explained, withdrew, or spiraled into anxious overthinking.

Instead of beating ourselves up, we ask different questions: What part of me was trying to protect me? What did I really need in that moment? Where was love trying to break through?

We’ve created a gentle process commonly referred to as the worksheet that helps you explore these questions not as a chore, but as a doorway into grace. We encourage folks to bring their reflections into conversation with a trained listener—someone from our community who’s been walking this path too and knows how to hold sacred, compassionate space.

Want to try it?

• Attend a Self-Awareness Drop-In Demo (2nd Sundays after service)
• Download the Self-Awareness Worksheet →
• Make an appointment with a listener →
• Join a Self-Awareness Practice Group →