Summary
Mental health is a big topic of discussion present day. This article discusses one of the biggest components of mental health; being self-aware. The article discusses how being self aware can aide in better decision making, and encountering challenges you may experience in everyday life. Although there are countless ways to improve your self awareness this article will discuss 3 methods you should try immediately.
Self-Awareness
What is self-awareness? It sounds pretty obvious, being aware of oneself; however, that’s just the tip of the iceberg. It’s knowing your triggers, internal and external feelings, intuitions, abilities, shortcomings, among other factors and consequently using this knowledge to navigate life and understand the ebb and flow of life.
Oftentimes, there is a power struggle between who we were conditioned to be, what we want to be, and who we actually are. Life can throw many different curve balls but as we continue to advance through life, it’s crucial to reflect and see how life’s experience may have shaped you into who you are today. Many people live busy and hectic lives and ultimately prioritize their physical and mental health last.
Let’s say you decide to wash laundry once a week, but you never complete the task of taking them out of the dryer and folding it at them. At some point things get chaotic and disrupt the flow. Same as if you bought a car and never got the oil changed. It is important to maintain self awareness daily.
Although self-awareness may come easy to others, it’s a skill that can be acquired through effort and creating small routines that will eventually become second nature. BUT… WHY SHOULD I WANT TO CREATE THESE HABITS OF BEING SELF-AWARE?
The WHY!
It is important to develop self awareness because it can help you better regulate internal and external factors and how they impact you. There are quite a few people on the go and hustling to keep up with life’s busy demands, but don’t take time to notice certain behaviors or patterns they’ve obtained along the years. They may find themselves in recurring situations or not realizing how an event took a toll on their life. It is imperative to practice being self aware because then we can better recognize the impact of an event in that moment, rather than assessing a build up of multiple occasions. Being self aware also teaches you to appreciate the good and the bad, the dark and the light, or both sides of the coin if you’d like. There is value in it all. Ultimately it teaches you to recognize that happiness is in your control and in how you choose to navigate life.
There are several methods you can utilize to improve your self-awareness. In this blog we will look at our top 3!
3. Yoga or Just being Active
One of the biggest takeaways from yoga is the power of breath. Your breath in yoga soothes and creates space in the body, ultimately allowing your body to relax and go into a meditative-like state. Yoga allows you to become present with yourself while also getting in a great workout. If yoga isn’t your thing, just get active! Move your body and release any stress or tension you have built up. After your workout, make time for recovery; a hot shower, a smoothie- anything that will help you unwind and relax.
2. Journaling or Being Reflective
Journaling is a great tool to relieve any emotions or feelings you have. The best part of keeping a journal is that as you collect them you’ll notice any patterns. It may be easier to understand how you ended up where you are today. In everyday encounters it is important to be reflective. It is important to not just view situations from one point of view. You should take into account others’ points of view. You may not always agree with another person; however, as you grow older you should realize there’s more than just one way of thinking. Below are a few questions to help you get started with being more reflective.
What are your thoughts like when –(insert situation)–?
Ex: You receive bad news, Lose a loved one, frustrated,
Who’s able to help bring comfort during difficult times?
Who/ what things make you anxious or nervous?
What do you enjoy/ brings you happiness?
Where is a calming place you can go for relaxation?
How long have I felt this way and why?
1. Volunteering your Time
Oftentimes giving back is a great way to become more self-aware. Volunteering and offering help to those in need will show you that compassion goes a long way. There are many people that have heard the saying “it takes a village to raise a child,” and this is the same for a community. Giving back not only rewards you internally, but externally it’s showing others the importance of compassion as well. There are several places where you are able to volunteer your time in your community. Make it fun and get together with your friends and start a quarterly giveback celebration.
Hopefully after reading this blog you understand the importance of being self-aware and you have gained a few tools along the way to help out if need be. Just remember practice, practice, practice. You will get better, and as you do it will help you gain better control of your reality. You are in control of your happiness!
