Developing Self AwarenessDeveloping self awareness involves different strategies. It is a slow processs. Please don't expect dramatic results in a short time. Persistance and patience are important.
Visualization: Do this as suggested by Stephen R. Covey: As you read this, try to stand apart from yourself. Try to project your conscious upward into a corner of the room and see yourself, in your mind’s eye, reading. Can you look at yourself almost as though you were someone else? Now try something else. Think about the mood you are in now. Can you identify it? What are you feeling? How would you describe your present mental state? Your ability to do what you just did is uniquely human. We call it self-awareness or the ability to think about your very thought process. Self awareness enables us to stand and examine even the way we see ourselves. It affects not only our attitudes and behaviours, but also how we see other people.
Analyzing yourself (Self analysis or self study): It is a difficult but important process. You are going to find out the positive and negative aspects of your interactions, thoughts and behaviour more objectively. As a part of developing self awareness, let us discuss one of your typical days. You had interacted with many people and faced different situations. Your thought pattern and behaviour changed depending on the situation and people.Your communication and method of dealing was also different. At the end of the day, before going to bed, examine and analyze each and every situation objectively. Think of the positive and negative aspects of your behaviour, thoughts and communication. Think of the response of the other person in each situation.
These are the things that affect your life on daily basis and impact your life in a particular unique way. Do you think you could have behaved or communicated in a different way to get better response? Do you feel some of your thoughts were negative and not justified? Think about the ways you can improve- write down in detail, for each interaction. Stick it in your mind. You are going to implement your modified behaviour gradually. Nothing drastic and sudden. Behaviour pattern can not be changed over night.
Your implementation depends on future situations you face and how seriously you want to change yourself. This self analysis gives insight into yourself. You will be shocked to know the true 'you'. Developing self awareness this way is not a one day exercise. Do it every day for every situation- because you want to be a better person in every situation. You want to understand 'you' fully so that you know your capabilities and set your life goals accordingly. As you start implementing your modified life pattern and start getting results, you get confidence in yourself and in the method. You need not wait for the end of the day to analyze- any time of the day is fine. Analyzing others as part of developing self awareness: Apart from yourself, look at everybody you come across and have opportunity to observe- it is easier to observe others. Observe them closely- how they behave, talk, interact, respond... You liked some of their characteristics- the good ones and some you did not- the bad ones. Do yo have any of their good and bad characteristics? Analyze leisurely. You would be shocked to realize that you behaved in similar ways (which you dislike in others) many times. This is where your change starts. Try to adopt their good ones you don't have and get rid of the bad ones. Take your time. It is a slow process but you can do it. Make an unbiased list of
From this big list, make a number of small lists of qualities/talents under the headings:
Once you have these inputs, start working on them. Set goals and work towards realizing them. This self-monitoring and characteristic modification as per the changing situations is a continuous process of developing self awareness for self improvement. These modificatons are essential for realizing bigger goals of your life.
Self Awareness - The Key To Effective Mind Control
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