define self-awareness

Self-Aware Guys Are Nice and Finish First - On Developing Self-Awareness and Being Self-Aware

Self-Aware Guys Are Nice and Finish First

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If you’ve ever heard the tired old saying that nice guys finish last, and believed it, then you might be surprised to find out that it’s profoundly wrong. For some unhealthy reason, our culture has decided that being self-aware and nice is an awful thing and that aggressive jerks are much happier. We’ve also convinced ourselves that whoever amasses the most stuff is naturally the winner. Perspectives like these ignore the things that really bring joy to people’s lives:

  • Possessing self-awareness.
  • Working through one’s unresolved issues.
  • Being comfortable with one’s emotions.
  • Treating people with kindness and empathy.
  • Doing things that make the world a better place for everyone.
  • Caring for the vulnerable.
  • Letting go of the need to win.
  • Not having to be on top of someone else to feel good about oneself.
  • Building positive relationships.
  • Helping everyone succeed.

No amount of money, power, or material possessions can make someone meaningfully happy. As you’ve probably read time after time, many extremely wealthy and powerful people are as miserable as can be, they just have a lot of stuff. They sit surrounded by their extravagant things in their expensive houses and have to work that much harder to convince themselves that it all means anything important.

Finishing first in life means that you’ve achieved the pinnacle of self-awareness where you are so healthy and comfortable with yourself that you spread peace and joy within yourself and throughout the world. The only things that really matter in life are how you feel deep inside about yourself, how well you treat others, and what nice things you do to improve everyone’s well-being; everything else is just window dressing. Nice guys finish first because they’ve done the hard work necessary to become so self-aware that they’re genuinely happy with themselves and are able to spread that joy. If you want to find out who really finishes last, look for the miserable person trying to make another million or billion so he can feel safe for another ten minutes.

What will you do to develop self-awareness, be nice, and live a great life?

Cheers,

Guy

Self-Awareness, Congruence, and Happiness - On Developing Self-Awareness and Being Self-Aware

Self-Awareness, Congruence, and Happiness

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Congruence is a big part of self-awareness and simply means that your thoughts and actions match each other. A lot of people live lives where they think one thing but behave in ways that aren’t consistent with those thoughts. This creates tension and inner conflict.

One of the best ways to achieve congruence is to act in ways that are consistent with what you think. For example: If you say you’re going to do something, do it; if you believe something, make sure your actions match. You’ll feel happier and more balanced once you bring your thoughts and actions together.

So many people live terribly unhappy lives because they pretend to be someone they’re not or believe things that don’t stand up to any kind of reasonable scrutiny. Save yourself a lot of pain and misery by working on healing the hurts from your past and educating yourself so you can live a life of courage and joy.

What will you do to develop self-awareness and congruence so you can be happier?

Cheers,

Guy

It Takes Self-Awareness to Look at Yourself - On Developing Self-Awareness and Being Self-Aware

It Takes Self-Awareness to Look at Yourself

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There are many individuals who construct idealized versions of themselves to avoid having to look at how they really think and behave and the results they’re getting. It takes self-awareness to look at yourself, admit that something isn’t working and change direction. Here are some questions to ask yourself to stop fighting the facts and live based on what’s actually going on in your life and what you’re capable of doing:

  • What do I do in my life that causes me discomfort?
  • What can I do to let go of the things that cause me discomfort?
  • What would I change about myself to feel more comfortable?
  • What can I do to focus on my own behaviors rather than what other people do?
  • What patterns in my life would I change so I could be happier?
  • What am I willing to do to move in a positive direction?
  • What’s my plan for letting go of the thoughts and behaviors that don’t help me?
  • What will I do to be the same person privately and publicly?
  • What will I do to live authentically?

No amount of fighting the facts can change the reality of how you behave and the results you get in life. Take some time to answer questions like the ones I’ve suggested here and get to know yourself on a deeper level so you can live authentically and happily. Life is much more rewarding when you take a good look at yourself and follow your true path.

Cheers,

Guy

Self-Awareness and Healthy Interactions - On Developing Self-Awareness and Being Self-Aware

Self-Awareness and Healthy Interactions

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Self-awareness helps you have healthy interactions with others because, when you’re comfortable with yourself, you’re able to set your personal issues aside and get along with people no matter what the situation.

Have you ever been around someone who always has to win or be in a dominant position? Have you worked with a boss who works out her personal stuff on her employees? Perhaps you’ve endured friends or family members who make everyone miserable or have a tantrum if things don’t go their way. Maybe you know someone who emotionally blackmails others to get what he wants.

These types of behaviors happen all the time and are symptoms of lack of self-awareness. They occur because people don’t feel good about themselves and don’t understand why they think and behave the way they do. When people are deeply in touch with who they are and are happy and balanced they tend to behave more kindly toward others. They have healthy boundaries and empathy for others because they understand that other people also have needs.

Interacting positively with others is a valuable skill to learn because it helps you live a genuinely happy life. It’s the difference between the boss who tramples all over his co-workers and employees and barks orders all day versus the boss who listens calmly and communicates respectfully. One of them is happier and more balanced. You get to choose how you interact with others. You can either let your stuff get all over everyone around you or you can honor who they are and treat them wonderfully.

What will you do to develop self-awareness and promote healthy interactions?

Cheers,

Guy

7 Benefits of Self-Awareness - On Developing Self-Awareness and Being Self-Aware

7 Benefits of Self-Awareness

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The more self-awareness you possess, the more positive your life can be. Here are seven benefits of self-awareness:

  • Greater ability to manage your thinking and behavior.
  • Getting to know yourself more fully.
  • Dealing with your personal issues at a deeper level.
  • Becoming healthier and happier inside.
  • Understanding who you really are as a person.
  • Living your life authentically.
  • Treating yourself and others well.

It takes deliberate time and effort to build self-awareness but, the more you get to know yourself, the more in-tune you’ll be with who you really are and what brings you happiness in life. What would you add to this list?

Cheers,
Guy

Why Is Self-Awareness Important? - On Developing Self-Awareness and Being Self-Aware

Why Is Self-Awareness Important?

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Why is self-awareness important? Here are some lovely reasons:

  • You get to live life as yourself.
  • You can pursue your dreams.
  • You honor yourself every day.
  • You look within for answers.
  • You live a more fulfilling life.
  • You are in touch with your emotions, thoughts, and behaviors.
  • You understand why you do stuff.
  • You enjoy positive relationships.
  • You’re able to move in a positive direction.
  • You live consciously instead of reacting to everything that comes your way.
  • You understand your strengths and areas for improvement.
  • You’re constantly growing.
  • You treat yourself and others well.
  • You genuinely like yourself.

Self-awareness is of vital importance because it’s like the difference between being able to breathe or not. When you possess self-awareness you can enjoy who you are and live a deeply rewarding life. What would you add to this list?

Cheers,

Guy

15 Signs of Self-Awareness - On Developing Self-Awareness and Being Self-Aware

15 Signs of Self-Awareness

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Here are fifteen signs that a person has self-awareness:

  • Understand themselves better.
  • Behave proactively instead of reactively.
  • Connect more meaningfully with others.
  • Feel more at ease with themselves.
  • Have worked through past hurts.
  • Behave positively.
  • Pursue their dreams.
  • Enjoy positive relationships.
  • Treat others with kindness and compassion.
  • Have less conflict in their lives.
  • Understand where they end and others begin.
  • Have healthy boundaries.
  • Do things to help others.
  • Make the world a better place.
  • Live life based on their true selves.

You’ll know you’re around someone with self-awareness because they are following their dreams and do things in a way that bring joy to themselves and others. What would you add to this list?

Cheers,

Guy

The Self-Awareness Guy