Sep
25
2018
Getting started with self-awareness
We often rush through the day; getting on with our work without really giving our thoughts and feelings space, and not realising how our reactions or actions are impacting those around us. When we do this we’re lacking self-awareness, a helpful tool that has many benefits.
What is self-awareness?
Self-awareness is, in short, being conscious of your own character and feelings. This means tapping in to your emotions and understanding not just how you feel, but why you feel it. It’s all about putting yourself under a microscope and figuring out your strengths, weaknesses, motivations, thoughts, and beliefs.
Through this self-awareness, you’ll also be able to discover what changes you can make within and recognise the impact you might have on other people.
The benefits
There are many benefits to self-awareness, both for individuals and those around them! One of the biggest pros for individuals is that it can help you become more at peace with yourself. Taking the time to understand your feelings and delve deep into the reasons for your reactions and emotions makes it much easier to accept yourself and touch base with your authentic self.
Another major benefit is clear communication, as those who are self-aware tend to be able to communicate clearly and honestly. For example, when you’re frustrated you’ll be able to recognise why you’re feeling that way and how your reaction could impact someone else. This also means that self-awareness can improve relationships – particularly useful in the workplace!
Getting started
Here are a few tips to help you get started on your journey to self-awareness.
- Pause to identify your stressful thoughts – look deeply into these thoughts, flip them around and view them from a different perspective. Is your boss really being unreasonable? Or are you putting pressure on yourself?
- Ask for feedback and embrace it – be open and take the feedback on board. Try your best to avoid defending or justifying your actions, and instead notice your interpretations of their feedback.
- Make a list – grab a piece of paper and write down how you want to be seen, and how you’re afraid you’ll be seen. By recognising an imbalance you’ll be able to feel much more at peace with yourself and engage with the world in a more authentic way.
If you’d like to find out more about the benefits of self-awareness or would like to get started in becoming more self-aware, take a look at our one day course here.