Here are a few tips to help you increase your self-awareness:
Slow down
Whether in a car speeding past other vehicles on the road or communicating with someone in a rush, you aren,t paying attention, and self-awareness involves focusing on what you are doing.
Imagine you,re chugging along the highway in a slow car on a journey. Because you take your time, you can see details like the meadows and buildings you pass. You spot road signs easily, so you,ll know when it›s time to change direction. Apply similar principles to the rest of your life, and you,ll notice details too.
For example, during conversations, pause to reflect on what,s said and what you want to achieve; you,ll find it simple to direct the discussion and take it to your chosen destination.
Slow down, whether in a meeting, chatting with friends, or doing chores, and your awareness will expand. You,ll notice environmental and personal intricacies, like what,s affecting others and how people respond to you.
Be mindful
When you slow down, you,ll discover you can be mindful. Mindfulness is about claiming the moment with razor-sharp awareness. Use your senses to give you information. For example, what can you see and hear?
Pay attention to outer data (information from your surroundings) and inner data (thoughts and feelings). As a result, your self-awareness will increase. You,ll recognize how eating specific foods and being with certain people affects you. You,ll notice others, facial expressions that provide clues about their emotional state. In the past, you might have missed these snippets of information that can raise your mental and emotional prowess.
Clarify your views
As you learn and grow, your values and opinions alter. But you might only notice these changes if you occasionally ponder your beliefs and likes and dislikes. Consider what,s important to you in life. For example, what are your views on significant issues like politics, climate change, and immigration?
Other revealing questions include personal qualities you consider deal breakers in relationships, like honesty and dependability. You,ll understand yourself better once you define these aspects of your personality.
