Steps to Greater Self-Awareness
Let’s be honest – how much self-awareness do you have? You might think this is a crazy question, after all you spend every day and night with yourself, obviously you know yourself!
But perhaps you don’t! Self-awareness requires being intentional about learning about yourself and being really honest with yourself. If you’ve never taken the time to get to know yourself, you've probably got a lot to learn!
Self-awareness can improve your life, and prevent future agony. Getting to know yourself is scary, but vital.
Getting to know yourself:
Keep a journal. Record your life and thoughts each day, to gain insight into your psyche. List the high and low points, and your feelings around them. You’ll find your life develops in new ways.
Evaluate successes and failures. Successes and failures will tell you a lot about yourself.
Why were you successful? How did those successes make you feel? What did you do after a success?
Do the same with your failures. Are you a quitter? Why do you quit? Do you fail to set goals? Understanding your failures is powerful. Learn from your mistakes and shortcomings, and use the information to become more capable and powerful.
The low and high points of your life are educational and enlightening.
Examine your likes and dislikes. Do you like team sports or individual sports? Do you like skydiving or playing poker? What types of people do you like and dislike? The activities and people you enjoy or avoid can give you a peek into your psyche.
List your values. You might not have a firm grasp on your values. What’s important to you? List all the values that appeal to you, and examine whether or not you live your life according to those values. Order your values from most important to least.
Ask for an honest opinion. Your friends know you better than you think. Ask close friends to describe you honestly. Get them to list your strengths and weaknesses. Ask them what they think are your best and worst traits. Encourage them to be honest.
Take personality tests. There are dozens of personality tests available. Limitless Growth Strategies offers access to and expertise in one of the best – the Maxwell Method DISC Assessment. DISC will help you understand your communication and behavioral preferences; your greatest fears; and your motivators. You can find out more at https://www.limitlessgrowthstrategies.com/disc. There are many other assessments that you can consider as well.
How do you prefer to spend your time? Would you rather be alone or in a crowd? Do you like to stay home, or go out? What are your hobbies?
What do you avoid? Do you avoid daredevil situations? Snobby people? Loud music? Cultural activities? What are the things you can’t stand to have in your life? Why?
Self-awareness will help you build an enjoyable and meaningful life. It will teach you how to motivate yourself and build new habits.
It’s difficult to have a meaningful level of emotional intelligence without self-awareness. You’ll always be a mystery to yourself, unless you develop a high level of self-awareness.
You’ll have more control over your life and results if you’re more self-aware.
