Are you trying to be more self aware to improve your life? Read this article to learn more about how to develop self awareness.
The more you know about yourself, the easier it is to start seeing life in a way that is more beneficial for you. This is the art of self-awareness. Many great things can come from you being able to control and identify yourself accurately and appropriately.
But how exactly do we get to this point with something that seems so intangible? There are a few ways that you can start being more aware of yourself. Keep reading to learn 9 tips on how to develop self awareness and live a better life.
How to Develop Self Awareness
1. List Strengths & Weaknesses
One of the top tips for how to develop self awareness would be to know what your strengths and weaknesses are. This is an important factor for many reasons. Firstly, it allows you to know what things you can use to your advantage and to push your life forward.
At the same time, it will reveal things that may be holding you back and need improvement. Try not to judge yourself while figuring out your strengths and weaknesses. This is an exercise to know where you currently stand with traits that you use every day.
2. Find Out What Motivates You
Another key to developing self awareness is to find out what motivates you. The things that motivate us in life help us to make accomplishments- whether big or small. There are factors that motivate you to get out of bed every day and go to work or school.
Some of the things motivate you will more than likely change over time but there may be certain ones that remain the same throughout most of your life. It’s good to know whether your motives are things that are sustainable enough to get you to longterm goals.
3. Evaluate Belief Systems
The way people navigate throughout life is often based on their internal belief systems. For instance, if someone believes that money is the root of all evil then they may not aim to make much of it and reject capitalism as much as possible.
A great tip on how to develop self awareness is to evaluate the belief systems that govern your reality. These ideals are pushed in the back of your subconscious mind so they become automatic processes. There may be outdated beliefs from when you were a child that you need to get rid of in order to move forward in life and break negative cycles.
4. Reflect On Values
The values you have are another factor that will determine certain decisions you make and the behaviors you display. If you value education then you may choose to go to college. Getting married might be something important to you if you value a traditional home and family structure.
Be aware of the things that you value because this helps you to make sure your priorities are in line. Just like belief systems, your values might be something that isn’t conscious to you but they can play out in your actions. Explore your values and make sure they are in alignment with the person that you want to be.
5. Pay Attention to Emotional Responses
Have you ever seen someone that gets angry almost at the drop of a dime? You might think to yourself that this person can’t control their emotions very well. This may be the truth and could result from the individual never stopping to pay attention to their emotional responses to situations.
Be in control of your own feelings can help you to maneuver through life easier. It will help you to become a better communicator and can stop you from making rash decisions or doing things you regret. Next time a situation happens that upsets you or gets you overly excited, take a second to evaluate whether or not that reaction is needed then take proper steps to redirect it.
6. Practice Meditation
Meditation is an ancient technique that has many benefits for those that choose to make practice a part of their daily lifestyle. Practicing meditation can help to ease your mind, stabilize moods and promote healthy breathing patterns.
Start small with just a few minutes per day then build from there. Consider using guided meditations in the beginning if you are having difficulty getting in the flow. You can also click here to find out more about workshops and retreats to help out.
7. Be An Active Listener
Besides being able to hear your own inner voice, becoming self aware requires that you be an active listener of others as well. The more you listen and observe, the more you learn and are able to apply.
When you’re actively listening it’s important that you’re being patient enough to let the other person speak without interruptions. Keep in mind it’s about sharing the floor and not just listening to immediately have an answer or rebuttal to what the other person has said.
8. Start Journaling
Here’s a simple method for how to develop self awareness. Journaling is a great way to get all of your thoughts, feelings and ideas on paper. This is helpful because you can come back to review them.
Keeping a journal also gives you the opportunity to monitor your growth by revisiting old entries. Try journaling at least once per day on a daily basis.
9. Use Personality Tests
There are many tools for categorizing humans when it comes to characteristics. Many of these personality tests are very useful in helping you understand yourself better, such as the Myers-Briggs test.
Remember gathering information about yourself is great for understanding how you function as a person.
Curious About How to Develop Self Awareness?
Learning how to develop self awareness is a valuable journey to pursue in life. The main key to focus on is getting closer to yourself and figuring out what really makes you tick.
If you find that are things that you could improve on then you’ve already got the upper hand by being in the position to change them. For more tips and advice on personal development, check out our blog today.
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