Developing Self-Awareness

The key to change is learning how to become self-aware.

Self –awareness is” the capacity for introspection and the ability to recognize oneself as an individual separate from the environment and from other individuals.”

Self-awareness is having a clear perception of your personality, including your strengths, weaknesses, thoughts, beliefs, motivation and emotions. It allows you to understand yourself and how other people may perceive you .Once you know your core personality and your strengths and weaknesses, you will understand your emotions and reactions and this will assist you in responding in the correct way and making the correct choices.

To create the life you want and find the motivation to get you started, the first step is to become self-aware. Start with yourself instead of looking to blame others and make excuses.

In his book ,Emotional Intelligence, Daniel Goleman says: ”If your emotional abilities aren’t in hand, if you don’t have self-awareness, if you are not able to manage distressing emotions, if you can’t have empathy and effective relationships, then no matter how smart you are, you are not going to get very far.”

So how does one develop self-awareness? Here are some tips to get you started:

  1. Focus attention on the details of your personality and behaviour
  2. Notice your emotions and name them.
  3. Notice your trigger points. What sets you off or changes your mood?
  4. Practice being mindful in all of your activities by being present. For example when eating a piece of chocolate, use your senses to notice the smell, taste and texture of the chocolate. Don’t just eat it quickly.

Doing it yourself and knowing it yourself has a greater impact and is the way to enlightenment and change. It is about taking personal responsibility. Personal choice and personal responsibility lead to personal transformation.

Lao Tzu’s words ring true:

“Knowing others is intelligence. Knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength. Mastering yourself is true power

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