It’s impossible to live authentically without first
discovering who you are. Self-awareness is crucial! This first module will help
you discover yourself.
What is self-awareness? The dictionary defines self-awareness
as “knowledge and awareness of your own personality or character.” When
you’re self-aware, you have an accurate and clear understanding of your
personality, strengths, weaknesses, and beliefs. You know what makes
you tick. Self-awareness also includes an understanding of how others perceive
you.
Lacking self-awareness can lead to a very confusing and
frustrating life!
Your level of
self-awareness can influence your relationships, career, and happiness:
- Self-awareness
is necessary for taking control of your life. The direction of your life is determined by your thoughts, beliefs,
emotions, and reactions. Self-awareness is the principle way of understanding
and influencing these things.
- Self-awareness
highlights faulty beliefs and emotional reactions that stand in your way and
gives you the power to make adjustments.
- Self-awareness
illuminates the real reasons for past failures and challenges. We often dismiss our failures as bad luck or a lack
of proper timing. But it’s also possible that we failed to perceive the
situation, others, or ourselves accurately. It’s much easier to see the reason
behind relationship, work, and other struggles when we can look at ourselves
clearly.
- Do you
consistently struggle at work or in your relationships? What can you do better?
- Those who lack
self-awareness are puzzled by their negative outcomes or blame others
exclusively.
- Self-awareness
is a critical quality for leaders.
One study concluded that a high degree of self-awareness was the best
predictor of success for executives.
- Executives that
have an understanding of their weaknesses are able to build a team composed of
members that fill those weaknesses.
- A lack of
self-awareness puts a limit on your leadership abilities.
- Self-awareness
is the foundation for personal progress.
Without it, any personal development efforts will be severely hampered.
- Self-awareness is
the cornerstone of success and self-improvement. Without self-awareness, the
knowledge you possess can’t be applied effectively. It’s necessary to
understand your beliefs, habits, strengths, and weaknesses to make a personal
change. Avoid assuming that you’re self-aware. Give it some time and thought.
Building greater self-awareness won’t happen overnight, but
it can be developed. You can start building your self-awareness, and reaping
the benefits, starting today!
Your next lesson gives you 10 ways to develop your
self-awareness.
Here’s what you need to
do today:
Make a list of your daily habits and mark
each habit as positive or negative.
Then pick just one habit to work on. It can be a positive habit that you want to develop further, or you can pick a negative habit that you want to change. Make a plan for changing your chosen habit.