Many intelligent and accomplished people don’t realize that self-awareness can help them enjoy deeply fulfilling and meaningful lives. They think that self-awareness is some touchy-feely nuisance that doesn’t yield tangible results. Self-awareness is a key part of being happy and living a fulfilling life because, when you understand yourself well, you experience the world as the real you rather than living unconsciously or based on what others expect you to do. Here are twelve obstacles to building self-awareness:
- Fear of unpleasant emotions.
- Fear of opening a pandora’s box of memories.
- It’s easier to live unconsciously.
- It’s easier to live through other people than to take the risks involved with living a genuine life.
- It’s easier to give the responsibility for your happiness or success to someone or something else.
- Self-awareness takes a lot of work.
- It’s difficult to break habits.
- People are comfortable doing what they’ve always done, even if it’s not working.
- Self-awareness isn’t tangible like building something or making money.
- People don’t see the value in getting to know themselves.
- People feel uncomfortable focusing on themselves.
- Fear of trying something new.
Building self-awareness isn’t some abstract concept that only works in books. When you get to know yourself better, you live a happier life because you understand understand why you do the things you do. The ultimate goal of self-awareness is to know yourself so well that you’re comfortable living as the real you.
Cheers,
Guy