Accomplishment begins with our own self. We set a goal, we do what it we need to accomplish it, then we enjoy the benefits of having attained the goal. Everything needed to reach the goal comes from the self.
The self and its physical, mental, and emotional states are important if we are ever to complete tasks and reach goals quickly and efficiently. Particularly important is the internal state of the self. Everything happening on the inside eventually appears outside as words and actions.
As they say: garbage in, garbage out.
There’s an even better way to think about this inside-outside relationship of the self. Quality in, quality out.
Perhaps the fastest and easiest way to examine and evaluate states of self at any given moment is by developing self-awareness. Here are three ways to develop self-awareness quickly and easily.
Gratitude
Gratitude is simply taking inventory of what you have and being thankful and content for them. Society often likes to tell us about what we don’t have. Gratitude changes that by allowing us to intentionally focus on what we do have.
The practice of gratitude is an act that happens in the present moment. It brings our awareness to where we are now. We may be thankful for something good that has happened in the past. But our expression of that thanks happens presently, no matter how far back in the past the good happened.
Gratitude increases our self-awareness because we become more aware of what we have in our present moment. You will be surprised at just how much you have to be grateful for.
Meditation
Many people think of meditation as spending a block of time completely clearing one’s mind or having laser sharp focus on a single word. I like to think of meditation has taking inventory within.
Meditation practice for self-awareness might be to spend a few minutes taking note of any feelings or sensations within. Sometimes those feelings that appear within are good and sometimes they are troubling.
When we meditate for self-awareness we create space to do an internal check. If we find something we don’t like then we can do something about it in a positive and empowering way.
Find the good in everything
If someone tells us to take note today of everything different in the world, we would focus on differences. If someone tells us to take note of everything similar in the world, we would focus on similarities.
Finding the good in all things influences how we view the world as well as ourselves. We might have found some experiences challenging. And when we look deeply into those challenges we can find that there is something good there. We might find that those challenges developed within us courage and resilience, even if the outcome may not have been what we wanted.
When we look for the good within ourselves, we will often view ourselves completely differently. We find that behaviors we wish we could change often have good motives behind them. Of course, if we wish to change behaviors we have that option to change them. But when we understand the good motives that undesired behaviors are trying to fulfill, we can find more beneficial ways to meet those motives.
Finding the good within our feelings, words, and actions, and in our circumstances and challenges is a unique way to improve our self-awareness. We should not blindly excuse the bad in bad behaviors and experiences. But when we realize the good intentions behind them, we can become more aware of how we think about and respond to those bad behaviors and experiences. Then we can seek worthwhile alternatives that fulfill those good motives.