The Gift of Self-Awareness

Regardless of where you are at in your life, I guarantee your self-awareness is better than it was last year or even yesterday. We learn so much about ourselves every single day. Whether it's how far our patience can go, how little we like a flavor of ice cream or how brave we can be. Sometimes though, the gift of self-awareness can feel discouraging when we learn the more difficult things, like how far we're willing to go for approval or how to hurt we still are over that event from childhood. Above all though, we learn that the gift of self-awareness is key on the road to creating the lives we want for ourselves.

So how do we do that? Self-awareness is really just a byproduct of intentional self-discovery. The deeper the questions we're willing to explore within ourselves the deeper the self-awareness has the opportunity to go.

Through that commitment to ourselves, we also learn how to be braver and braver. With all the information that could have scared us before but instead (with self-awareness), we're able to hold our own hand through the process.

"Self-awareness is the foundation of authenticity, and thus it is at the center of your compass" -Bill George, Discover Your True North

Strategies for Accelerating Self-Awareness

Asking yourself "Why?" 5 times

So you're bothered - why? Because your friend is late in meeting you. Why? It makes you feel disrespected even though you know that wasn't their intention. Why? Because there's a part of you that feels less important and lonely and embarrassed sitting by myself waiting. Why? Because it reminds you of when you felt lonely as a kid. Why? I always felt different as a child and that I ultimately couldn't trust anyone.

Consistent Journaling

As always this is a tried and true method for intentional and sometimes even passive self-discovery. The great thing about journaling is don't have to have a breakthrough with every session. The benefit of journaling can definitely come in the gift of a particular session and where your mind is at but ultimately it's the cumulative effort of periodically getting in the mindset of producing answers from none other than your own brain. Like a patient archeologist sometimes the pictures aren't clear until you take a step back from numerous sessions of light brushing and digging and you find yourself with a whole new prehistoric animal that's been uncovered.

Talking It Out

Never underestimate the simplicity of talking it out with someone. The biggest blocker here of course is the feeling that we don't have someone to talk to or someone we can trust. I have found that this belief is not only a debilitating blocker but also almost always not true. Every time I've come across this belief system in someone it's also paired with comfort in loneliness - and the self-awareness isn't always there yet! Explore within yourself what being alone protects you from. This is usually born from not feeling safe while growing up, so we create mechanisms in our lives to help us thrive in independence without the help or need from anyone. This exercise is in and of itself a way to deepen our self-awareness ;).

Have you tried any of these strategies? What are some of your own favorites and how has the self-discovery journey been going for you? For more reading on self-awareness check out this great article from BetterHelp.com.

If you're looking for support on your own self-discovery journey consider