5 Ways to Increase Self-Awareness

We don't see things as they are, we see them as we are.

Anais Nin

When I teach a yoga, meditation, and pranayama class participants leave the session relaxed, refreshed, peaceful and often clearer about a particular issue in their life. While meditation does bring bliss and a release from the world, it does not mean that people who meditate are not consciously aware of the needs of themselves or the people around them, nor are they unaware of what is happening in the world.

Meditation enables a heightened state of awareness to evolve and with this newfound clarity comes an understanding of needs, purpose, and the ability to implement change with confidence.

Yet many people live their life following the same routines and habits, sometime without remembering why, and don’t know why or how to begin making simple changes that will bring positive transformation to their professional and personal lives.

There are more than 5 ways to increase your self-awareness but that would read more like an essay than a blog posting so in the interest of space and your time I have selected 5 easy-to-implement techniques that will enable you to influence the way that you think and promote heightened self-awareness.

Awareness Research
Numerous awareness studies that use some form of meditation report similar findings of positive benefits by program participants. One particular six-week study by the University of Ohio examined the effects of meditation on stress. The negative effects of long-term stress and its contribution to chronic disease are well-documented. The members of this study who were a part of a meditation group reported that they were more aware of external stressors, they felt less stressed by life events, and they fell asleep more easily, unlike the control group who did not experience any benefits.

This type of research in invaluable to companies who are seeking to reduce their health-care costs as meditation training is inexpensive, does not require special equipment, and is transportable as it can be practiced most places.

To the individual, it is the increased level of awareness that helps them to make subtle changes in diet, activity, and other lifestyle choices. Interactions improve as empathy, understanding, and perception of situations become clearer.

Awareness at Work
Clarity of self and vision empowers you to make better life choices as well as to consciously act on your thoughts, knowing that your decisions are based out of an awareness of who you are and what you need.

Jim Rohn said "You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.”

When you stop to think about this simple yet profound statement it encourages you to really think about where you are in life, who you have around you, and why. How can you make the best decisions if you are not consciously aware of your thoughts or actions?
Awareness helps you to relinquish the status quo and make the gradual shift to a new you who has control and influence over your own life.

Five Ways to Increase Your Self Awareness
1. Understanding what motivates you
Sit down and make a list of your strengths and weaknesses. Be honest about all of them as chances are if you can see them, so can other people. Challenge yourself to think of those areas in your life that you want to do different or enhance.

2. Your Habits
What are your core values in life? How do you measure success?
When thinking about your habits be specific. How do people act around you and why do you think this is? How do you act around other people and why?
What habits do you keep repeating that you want to release.
Self awareness is a gradual process and change will not occur overnight, nor is it a quick fix. You will begin with one area that you want to improve and work on that until you feel that you are ready to move onto another.
Learning is a lifetime activity and we stop growing when we stop evolving and increasing our knowledge base.

Wisdom evolves from within.

3. Your Purpose
You are unique. Don’t compare yourself to others.

The American author Kurt Vonnegut wrote the following; “Be careful what you pretend to be because you are what you pretend to be.”

Ask questions specific to your needs such as :
What habits do I want to change?
Am I happy with…?
Do I want to…?

By looking at what you have written, you may see a trend or pattern arise. A useful technique is to separate yourself from what you have written and think about how you might advise a fellow co-worker or friend who was in such a position.
This helps you to separate emotions from the decisions you have to take, identify what you want to do in life, and be happier with your choices.

In yoga philosophy there is a well-known saying “All Knowledge is Within.”

Trust that you have the knowledge within you to know your purpose.

4. Release the Past; Journaling
Writing your thoughts down is helpful for some people and this is another option that you may wish to try to release unconscious thoughts and habits. By writing events and conversations down you may notice a pattern of behavior or gain clarity and insight into a trait that you were unaware of.
Let the past go and know that you have a choice about what you do now.

It is what you do NOW that will shape and evolve the future.

5. Experiencing the Moment

Listen to the Exhortation of the Dawn!

Look to this Day!

For it is Life, the very Life of Life.

In its brief course lie all the

Verities and Realities of your Existence.

The Bliss of Growth,

The Glory of Action,

The Splendor of Beauty;

For Yesterday is but a Dream,

And To-morrow is only a Vision;

But To-day well lived makes

Every Yesterday a Dream of Happiness,

And every Tomorrow a Vision of Hope.

Look well therefore to this Day!

Such is the Salutation of the Dawn!

Kalidasa (5th century Sanskrit scholar)

Meditation is the easiest method to begin to increase awareness of self. As mentioned earlier it is inexpensive to learn yet the benefits are many.
The following link will give you a basic introduction to a simple meditation.
How to Meditate

Peace