Developing Self-Awareness

What is an important first step you can take towards achieving your goals?

You might think that the most important step is to take action. And taking action is essential. But there's one important step I'd like to bring to your attention.

Today, if you keep reading, you will learn about self awareness. Self-awareness is an important first step to achieving your goals. Without self-awareness, action can lead you in the wrong direction. You'll learn three ideas for developing higher self-awareness.

What exactly is self-awareness?

Self-awareness is your ability to notice, observe and understand yourself, your habitual thoughts, emotions, and behavior, and your environment.  It’s like holding up a mirror to yourself - not just to see what’s happening on the surface, but to understand what’s driving you underneath. To achieve your goals, it's essential to understand more of who you are and what you need to do differently to reach your next level.

Let's dive in to the three ideas!

Idea #1: Make a commitment to yourself.

One of my personal growth teachers, Bob Proctor, taught me that the real purpose of goals is to grow. As you clarify your goals, know that taking action towards your goals is going to push you to grow.  This is where self-awareness is essential. 

As you take action towards your goals, you may hit roadblocks or challenges. Or you may get stuck.

When you commit to developing your self-awareness, you'll be holding up a mirror to yourself to see where you've got to change and improve.  Self-awareness will help you make intentional choices around your thoughts, feelings and behaviors in ways that will support you in achieving your goals.

Idea #2: Study leads to higher self-awareness.

Study allows you to learn from others who can help you grow, such as reading books, articles and speeches; and watching documentaries, films or videos about impactful people or success princples. Study will allow you to take information and reflect it back to yourself. 

When you consciously make a choice to study, you'll often be introduced to new perspectives, strategies, or questions that prompt self-reflection.  For example, hearing about someone else's journey to success can make you reflect on your own goals, values, and habits - what’s working and where your growth opportunities are.

Study can also help you identify blind spots, gain language for your self-improvement journey or have success modeled to you by others.  Learning from others’ success stories reminds you of what’s possible. This inspiration can lead to self-awareness as you examine your ambitions, align your actions, and assess whether you’re living in alignment with your values.

Idea #3: Associate with growth-minded people.

Spend time with people who are self-aware and committed to their own self-improvment journey. I am conscious of who I spend time with because I want to learn from them and grow. It is important to associate with like minded-people who are committed to developing their self-awareness and growth. 

In Think and Grow Rich, one of the best-selling personal growth books of all time, author Napoleon Hill describes "the power of the Mastermind" as one of the common themes in the lives of highly effective people. He describes a mastermind as "coordination of knowledge and effort, in a spirit of harmony between two or more people."

His research of highly effective individuals led him to conclude that successful people avail themselves of the mastermind principle.

When you ally yourself with a mastermind - growth-minded individuals committed to helping you reach your goals - you'll be pushed into higher self-awareness. Other successful people can encourage you to expand what's possible for you, point out your blind spots, or model breaththrough strategies and approaches.

Self-awareness leads to a life of meaning and significance.

Once you commit to self-awareness, there is no going back. You just won’t be able to go back to the old you. Life is so much deeper, richer, fuller, and more meaningful when you are living from that heightened self-awareness and commitment to growth.