Self-Awareness Meaning

Self-Aware People Are Non-Mainstream - On Developing Self-Awareness and Being Self-Aware

Self-Aware People Are Non-Mainstream

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Self-aware people are non-mainstream because they are in touch with their own emotions, thoughts, and behaviors, and are able to follow their own inner voices and live the way they want to without worrying about what others think or say.

I’m not a mainstream type of person. I tend to like things that are different, quirky, silly, offbeat, emotionally complex, and that elicit deeper thought. I could care less about rules, fitting in, or society’s expectations of me. I live in a place in the universe where I’m immersed in feelings and an exciting swirl of creativity. I’m constantly and continually building my self-awareness.

Too often, we’re told that we should toe the line, follow the rules, not stick out or be self-aware, and many other types of soul-crushing suggestions. In my experience, these recommendations only lead to misery and self-loathing. People are profoundly unhappy when they don’t have self-awareness and can’t express who they really are. The antidote is to follow your inner voice and live courageously and joyfully as the real you. Here are five ways to be non-mainstream:

  1. Identify what you really want to do in life and do it each day.
  2. Don’t pay attention to what others say, follow your own inner voice.
  3. Have confidence in your abilities.
  4. Embrace the things that are different and unique about you.
  5. Have the courage to live as the real you.

Life is much richer when there’s variety and eccentricity mixed into it instead of everyone being the same. Don’t be afraid of being who you really are, you’ll live a much happier life when you have the courage to do your own thing. What will you do to develop self-awareness, avoid being mainstream, and enjoy being yourself?

Cheers,

Guy

Self-Awareness and The Big Mouth - On Developing Self-Awareness and Being Self-Aware

Self-Awareness and The Big Mouth

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People who lack self-awareness have no idea what’s coming out of their mouths and they’ll say things that reveal their inner thoughts and get them in trouble at work and at home. We see examples of this all around us when people make sexist, racially tinged or other inappropriate or clumsy comments because they have limited understanding of how their statements might affect others. It happens a lot in the workplace when leaders trample on their employees or hurt them in some way without realizing that there are other options.

A major element of self-awareness is the ability to practice effective communication, as in, thinking before you speak and, more importantly, being as healthy a person as you possibly can be so that you understand how not to step on others. Here are some tips to heal a case of big mouth:

  • Listen more than you talk.
  • Think before you speak.
  • Resist the urge to say the first thing that comes to your mind.
  • Ask yourself how your words might be perceived by others.
  • If you think what you have to say might be offensive, it will likely be.
  • Clarify what’s going on by asking open-ended questions.
  • Ask people for feedback.
  • Watch people’s facial expressions and reactions.
  • Choose to step outside yourself and consider others’ feelings.
  • Think of a kind way of saying things.
  • Say things that build people up.
  • Monitor your own body language and reactions.

When you practice these behaviors you’ll run a far smaller risk of finding a foot lodged in your mouth and you’ll build a more compassionate and respectful workplace. You’ll also save time and effort because you won’t have to deal with the misunderstandings or conflicts that arise when the message is clouded by extraneous elements. What will you do to make sure you’re communicating effectively, kindly and compassionately?

Cheers,

Guy

Finding Meaning in Life with Self-Awareness - On Developing Self-Awareness and Being Self-Aware

Finding Meaning in Life with Self-Awareness

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Countless earnest people put a lot of time and effort into finding meaning in life but don’t actually experience it because they look to outside sources rather than looking inside themselves. A major element of self-awareness is developing the ability to understand yourself so well that the meaning of life becomes clear to you because you’re living from the core of your being.

When you’re looking for meaning, it’s important to build self-awareness and examine the inner workings of your mind and heart, where the answers reside. Take the time to find out who you genuinely are and what you really want to do in life and you’ll become more fulfilled from the inside out. For example: I found great significance when I finally decided to be a poet because I knew it reflected the authentic me. Now I live each day full of joy and purpose.

You can spend a lifetime looking outside yourself for happiness but it won’t be as satisfying as simply following your true path. As you increase your self-awareness, you’ll find that the answers you’ve been looking for will reveal themselves. What will you do to develop self-awareness and find meaning in life?

Cheers,

Guy

Self-Aware People Ask for Help - On Developing Self-Awareness and Being Self-Aware

Self-Aware People Ask for Help

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When I help people figure out what they want out of life they often ask me why some people achieve their goals and some don’t. The answer is that successful people have the self-awareness to ask for outside help so that they can learn new ways of doing things that break the patterns they’ve established. As a self-awareness consultant, I am familiar with people’s power to change their lives dramatically with the help of someone supportive helping them reach their goals.

It’s great to have friends and family but there is an additional valuable place for having someone helping us who does not know us. It introduces an objectivity and clarity we can’t get from people who know us. Some people look for help from a therapist, for others a consultant is a great option, for others a class or group of some kind helps them acquire new insight. The people who most succeed at changing things in their lives are those who actively build self-awareness and seek outside support that opens their minds to new possibilities.

An outside, supportive person can help us see things from a more neutral point of view and can identify things that people who know us don’t see. If we are stuck in the same rut it’s often refreshing to just have a neutral, outside perspective that gives us clear feedback. Try it sometime: think of something you want to work on in your life and then reach out to an outside helper who can help you get where you want to go. The only thing you have to lose are the negative things you endure now.

What will you do to develop self-awareness and ask for help?

Cheers,

Guy

Self-Awareness and Flexibility - On Developing Self-Awareness and Being Self-Aware

Self-Awareness and Flexibility

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When you possess self-awareness you’ll likely demonstrate a flexibility to adapt to different situations and change course in life when unforeseen obstacles present themselves. If you’ve ever interacted with someone who lacks flexibility, you know how tragically sad it is when they are unable to change no matter what the consequences or rewards.

One of the major characteristics of truly happy people is the ability to bend instead of break by being open to making changes, learning new things, and continually growing. Taking a candid look at yourself and making meaningful and sometimes difficult adjustments requires significant courage; being stubborn requires none.

The reward of being flexible is that you’ll understand what it is to be able to adapt and thrive regardless of the situation. The thing I love about providing guidance to people who value self-awareness is that they are open to moving in new and exciting directions instead of staying stuck in one place.

How does flexibility affect your life?

Cheers,
Guy

What's Your Level of Self-Awareness? - On Developing Self-Awareness and Being Self-Aware

What’s Your Level of Self-Awareness?

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It can be challenging to determine what your level of self-awareness is without having some frame of reference. Here are some brief guidelines to help you figure out where you’re at:

Level 1 – You Say You Know Yourself

You say you know yourself but your description doesn’t match the reality. You tend to live by reacting unconsciously to your environment.

Level 2 – You Know a Few Things about Yourself

You can recognize some of the things you think, feel and do but you have little or no control over when or how you do them.

Level 3 – You Begin Understanding Why You Do Stuff

You begin to examine and comprehend why you think, feel and behave the way you do and are able to consciously make small changes.

Level 4 – You Understand Yourself at a Deeper Level

You are able to think, feel and behave consciously rather than reactively and live a life based on being the real you.

The great thing about learning about yourself is that it helps you become stronger, healthier, and more connected to your true path in life. What will you do to keep increasing your self-awareness?

Cheers,

Guy

Increase Your Self-Esteem through Self-Awareness - On Developing Self-Awareness and Being Self-Aware

Increase Your Self-Esteem through Self-Awareness

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You can increase your self-esteem by developing your self-awareness. For example, you’ll be a more confident, courageous person when:

  • You know who you are deep inside.
  • You know what you want in life.
  • You follow your passions.
  • You live authentically.
  • Your thoughts, feelings and behaviors are positive.
  • You have healthy boundaries.
  • You value yourself because you know how amazing you are.
  • You steer clear of people who try to sabotage your progress.
  • You genuinely like yourself.

When you do these types of things you feel better about yourself. A lot of people encounter unnecessary difficulties and heartaches in life because they move away from who they really are deep inside. The more self-awareness you possess, the more you’ll enjoy life as the real you and the happier you’ll be. What will you do to keep increasing your self-esteem?

Cheers,

Guy

The Self-Awareness Guy