We all look at personal development in different ways. Originally for me it was all about looking at what I wanted to accomplish in my career and how I was going to accomplish different goals to become successful. In general terms this seems like a very good way to look at it.
What I didn't pay attention to was what needed to be addressed internally to be able to recognize what aligns with my values, beliefs, and what potential barriers that were getting in the way. I started realizing the importance of self discovery and understanding the barriers to why I haven't reached my goal. I wasn't ready to acknowledge my mental blocks or deal with the shit I went through in my life.
I then realized I was skipping so many steps in my personal development journey, I had goals I was looking to achieve but felt like the harder I tried I could never reach them. Challenges and set backs continuously happened and I would blame everyone around me before taking ownership of my own faults.
How do we look at our own faults if it's something we want to ignore. I just want all the glory at the end and want to skip the hard work of understanding how to get there. What I realized though and continue to work through is we have to better understand ourselves internally to move forward. You have to heal from the pain, trauma, and properly process everything that has gone on over the years. You have to have a true understanding of who you are internally, and to start this process you have to dig deep.
I went through most of this stuff in September blogs. I will be touching on it again as we go through December for some it can be tough and a reminder or assistance getting through the next few months might be needed.
What is self-awareness?
Self-Awareness - Is understanding your own character, feelings, motives, and desires. Being able to reflect on your thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and understanding how they align with your values and goals. Self-awareness is vital in your personal growth journey and something that we seem to skip or at least I did. It allows us to understand ourselves on a deeper level, which can lead to positive changes in our lives.
Everything above is a journey I went through and I skipped one of the most important parts being self-awareness. Having that better understanding of who I am and what I want to accomplish. Knowing where my barriers are and being able to work through them. Understanding my emotions, behaviors, and thoughts and how it impacts those around me.
Self-awareness plays a big role in the person you want to become in different aspects of your life.
The Importance of Self-Awareness
- Improved Emotional Intelligence
- Emotional intelligence is the ability to recognize, understand, and manage your own emotions, as well as to recognize and influence the emotions of others. Self-awareness is the foundation of emotional intelligence because it allows you to identify your emotions and understand how they influence your thoughts and actions. Higher self-awareness leads to better emotional regulation, which can improve relationships, communication, and decision-making.
- Better Decision-Making
- When you are aware of your biases, values, and emotions, you can make more informed decisions. Self-aware individuals can distinguish between their emotional responses and logical reasoning, which helps in making decisions that are aligned with their true goals and values rather than being driven by impulsive reactions.
- Enhanced Relationships
- Self-awareness helps you understand your own needs and desires in relationships, as well as recognize the needs of others. This understanding leads to better communication, more empathy, and healthier boundaries. Being aware of how your behavior affects others can also improve conflict resolution and deepen connections.
- Personal Growth and Development
- Self-awareness is the starting point for personal growth. By recognizing your strengths and areas for improvement, you can set realistic goals and take action to develop yourself. It also helps you stay motivated by keeping you aligned with your core values and passions.
- Increased Resilience and Stress Management
- Self-awareness helps you recognize when you are under stress and understand what triggers it. This awareness allows you to develop coping strategies that work best for you. By managing stress effectively, you become more resilient and better equipped to handle life’s challenges.
- Alignment with Values and Purpose
- Self-awareness ensures that your actions and decisions align with your core values and life purpose. When you are clear about what matters most to you, you can live a life that is true to yourself, leading to greater fulfillment and satisfaction.
- Professional Success
- In a professional context, self-awareness can lead to better leadership, teamwork, and career advancement. Leaders who are self-aware tend to be more authentic and effective, as they are able to understand their impact on others and adapt their behavior accordingly. For team members, self-awareness promotes collaboration and constructive feedback.
- Improved Mental Health
- Self-awareness is crucial for mental health. It helps in identifying negative thought patterns, recognizing triggers for anxiety or depression, and understanding the root causes of emotional distress. This awareness is the first step toward seeking help or implementing strategies to improve mental well-being.
There are two areas of self-awareness that needs to be looked at
Internal self-awareness: Understanding your inner thoughts, emotions, and values. Like looking in a mirror and looking inward at what truly matters to you and how you think of yourself.
External self-awareness: This is an emphasis on how others perceive you. Don't get caught up with what others think of you unless you have respect for them and they have your best interest in mind. This is about taking feedback from others which isn't always easy to do but allows you to see blind spots which you wont usually see unless pointed out.
Now that we have dove into self-awareness a bit and the importance of it on your personal growth journey, lets take a quick look at some of the obstacles which we also will go into more detail in the next blog. To make sure you don't miss that sign up for the weekly newsletter Sign up.
- Blind Spots
- Cognitive Biases
- Fear of self-reflection
These are some of the main reasons we don't look at self-awareness when going on this journey. We're afraid to look inward and discover truly what's holding us back.
How do we start cultivating self-awareness?
- Mindfulness and Meditation
- Journaling and Reflection
- Seek Feedback
The Role of Mindfulness in building self-awareness
What if the key to unlocking your deepest potential was already with in you?
Living each day fully present, no longer on autopilot, but attuned to the subtle emotions, thoughts, and behaviors that shape your life. Meditation has been show to rewire the brain, improving emotional regulation, focus, and resilience. Research in neuroplasticity indicates that consistent mindfulness practice can strengthen connections in the prefrontal cortex, the area responsible for self-awareness, decision making, and emotional regulation.
When we practice mindfulness, we engage the brains 'default mode network' (DMN), which is responsible for wandering thoughts, often associated with the past or worrying about the future. Mindfulness has been found to reduce the activation of the DMN, pulling us into the present and allowing us to observe rather than get caught up in these automatic thought loops.
The practice of mindfulness wasn't easy for me I remember my first attempt at meditation. I initially sat down with out a headset or any guidance, crossed my legs closed my eyes and sat there for about 30 seconds before I was squirming all over the place. This wasn't working so I decided to look for assistance on YouTube. Found a 10 minute guided session thought this should be a lot easier. I sat for about 2-3 minutes with my mind racing and still couldn't get comfortable. I gave up after that thinking it wasn't for me.
The problem was I didn't realize that I needed these thoughts to happen in my mind and to allow them to process. I also didn't know it was about focusing on my breath to bring me back to the present. I tried again a few months later with a better understanding and it was a completely different experience. I was able to allow my thoughts to start processing so I could understand them. I was aware of some of the messages my mind was telling me. There was messages that I wasn't willing to listen to consciously blocking them out and this was going on for a long time.
Since that point I now actively love meditation and journaling. Both let me explore what the mind is telling me and when I need to dig deeper I work with a hypnotherapist for that extra guidance. These are great tools for helping build self-awareness and truly understanding yourself internally.
How can you incorporate mindfulness into your daily life?
Mindful Breathing - Research shows that mindful breathing activates the parasympathetic nervous system, promoting relaxation and reducing cortisol levels, the stress hormone. This simple practice, though seemingly small, can have profound effects on mental clarity and emotional stability.
Body Scan Meditation - By bringing attention to physical sensations, the body scan helps you become more attuned to your emotions and how they show u in your body. This practice is particularly useful for reducing anxiety and promoting better sleep.
Mindful Observation - This practice cultivates curiosity and patience, which are essential for personal growth. By training your mind to notice small details, you can apply the same attention to your internal world, deepening your self-awareness.
The ability to practice mindfulness is a life long journey that evolves with you. As you continue to grow in self-awareness, you'll notice not only changes in how you interact with yourself but also in how you relate to others. The beauty of mindfulness lies in it's simplicity. A few moments of practice each day can lead to a profound transformation in how you experience life. It's an invitation to live with intention, embrace each moment, and continually learn more about yourself.
Another great form of digging deep into understanding yourself is journaling. This played a massive role in my journey up to this point and will continue as I analyze my days and the different things that happened so I can look at how I react in different situations. This opens my eyes to areas of my life I need to make changes as self-reflection can really help towards cultivating self-awareness.
Self-awareness doesn't have a milestone with a finish line. It's something that is consistently worked at. It's an ongoing journey of self-discovery and growth. As you continuously work on it you will become more aware of your surroundings and what has you reacting to certain situations.
This journey is a powerful tool that will lead you to live a more meaningful and impactful life not only for yourself but being present for those around you.
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