Why bother with self-awareness?
Self-awareness is imperative for us to develop and grow as humans; there are a myriad of benefits associated with it.
Self-awareness is where one should begin their personal growth journey. Without knowing the depths of who you are, how can you truly know your aspirations and then authentically fulfill them? It can serve as your very own, tailored-to-you manual to successfully navigate your mind and achieve your goals.
Self-awareness can bring about improved emotional regulation, which is important to help ease reactions to life. It can improve emotional intelligence and better decision-making skills. Knowing who you are can also lead to improved relationships and increased empathy.
It's pretty great, this self-awareness thing.Here are some ways in which you can nurture self-awareness:
Understand how your "narrative identity" impacts who you are today. Narrative identity is a sense of personal identity that we create through a story or a narrative we believe about ourselves. It is an internalized story, which shapes our identity and helps us to make sense of our lives. This understanding of the story you tell yourself about yourself can provide clarity on your purpose, motivations and values.
Questions to ponder:
In what ways have life events and experiences shaped my behaviours and beliefs?
How have successes and failures influenced my sense of self?
Recognize your own toxic traits. Own up to the negative parts of yourself while understanding that NO ONE is without imperfection. Being tough on yourself will do you no good. Believe me. Been there, done that. Perhaps you have too? A compassionate internal dialog needs to take place for true reform to occur.
Questions to ponder:
Am I approaching situations mostly from a positive or negative perspective?
Am I being judgmental?
Am I taking responsibility where I should?
How do I communicate with others when I am in disagreement with them?
Understand how other people are affected by you and how you are affected by others. This is the crux of emotional intelligence and builds both awareness of self and others.
Questions to ponder:
How do my strengths and weaknesses impact my daily life?
Are there people in my life that bring out the best in me?
Are there people in my life that bring out the worst in me?
Am I aware of how others are impacted by my words and behaviours?
Check in on yourself when you are with others to see if you are being authentic or trying to fit in. Trying to fit in all the time can have you become disconnected and lose awareness of your true self. You force yourself to discover who you are when you put authenticity on the forefront.
Questions to ponder:
How do I fill my own cup?
Do I do things that rejuvenate me as an individual... something that isn't brought on by wanting to fit in but something I truly love to do?
Am I able to freely express my thoughts and feelings?
Under what circumstances and/or with who in my life do I feel hindered in my ability to be myself?
Know your values and what matters to you. There is good reason that "alignment with values" is one of our core values as a company. When your behaviours are in alignment with your values, you feel more content. There is an underlying discomfort when your behaviours are not in alignment with your values.
Questions to ponder:
How do my values shape my personal relationships?
How do I navigate situations where my values are in conflict with another?
Remain mindful as you traverse life. Reflect on your reactions to life - both emotions and behaviours. Reflect on what you prioritize in your life. Reflect on your motivations and fears. Reflect, ponder, introspect.
Questions to ponder:
Where could I have handled a situation better had I approached it with more mindfulness?
How do my thoughts affect my behaviours?
Another way of gently cultivating self-awareness is through the use of The Affirmation Pages. Through reflecting on the affirmations presented and exposure to positive thinking, you can become clearer to you. ☀️
- Our blog posts are written by our founder -