Cultivating a deep sense of awareness is not a difficult task, it just takes a few moments a day to check in with yourself to pause and reflect and to understand.
When we understand how we feel, why we do the things we do, why we make the choices we make and the experiences t we have, we can make meaning. We can make sense of those experiences and we can learn from them. We may not learn from everything we experience and there will be certain experiences, conversations, decisions and choices we make that bring is no further insight, but if you take the time to look at little deeper there will always be an opportunity to learn and grow.
When we make meaning, make sense of something it gives us knowledge about ourselves, others and the situation, it can also give us a new or different perspective.
If you are curious and want to cultivate a practise that brings a deeper sense of awareness and self-understanding to yourself, then follow the five steps below:
1. Keep a daily journal reflect upon how you feel, what you did, how you reacted, how you responded. You can even pose yourself questions and just write down what you feel, what you did and then see if there’s any opportunity to learn from what you’ve written. The aim is to develop a reflective practice
2. Practise an attitude of gratitude – showing thanks for simple things raises our awareness of what truly is happening around us. Acknowledging every day for one thing that you’re grateful for, that you’re thankful for will make a big difference to your self-awareness
3. Explore what triggers you. Getting an understanding of what triggers an emotional reaction is a great way to understand what’s going on within you and around you. Taking stock of how you feel and why you feel the way you do is a great way to understand. We all have triggers, some triggers are more sensitive than others. We are in control of those triggers and if we understand what triggers us, then we are becoming more self-aware
4. Identify your core values. It’s important when we are developing and cultivating a deeper sense of awareness that we understand what our values are. Our values are our moral compass, they help us in the way we choose to live our life in a meaningful and significant way. Understanding your values and what is called to you is essential to cultivating a deeper sense of awareness and understanding
5. Practise mindfulness and being present. Most of us spend our time thinking about the past or thinking about the future and very rarely in the moment. When we develop our self-awareness and deepening our understanding of self, we need to be present, we need to become a compassionate observer of ourselves in moments throughout our life. So, instead of focusing on the past on what you should have done and instead of daydreaming about the future, focus on the here and the now. Pay attention to what is happening right now and bring that into your conscious awareness and that will help you cultivate a deeper sense of self
If we can master self-awareness, then we can master most things in life. Self-awareness gives you the ability to live with purpose, authenticity and openness so why don’t you set yourself a task of cultivating and developing your awareness further. If you follow the five steps, I’ve shared with you in today’s blog you will achieve what you’re looking for. You will feel more connected to yourself, you’ll have a deeper sense of purpose and you have cultivated an awareness that will give you a balanced healthy and happy life and a whole new perspective on you!