Category Archives: Self-Awareness

When your feet start to hurt

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“When your feet start to hurt, place yourself in someone else’s shoes.”

—Demi Lovato, American Singer-Songwriter

Image of Factfulness book cover

Image from Amazon.com

I recently finished reading Factfulness by Hans Rosling. The book’s subtitle really grabbed my interest: Ten Reasons We’re Wrong about the World – and Why Things are Better than You Think.

Through the latest socioeconomic data he challenges the reader to find themselves along the continuum of low, middle, and high income countries. What Lovato’s quote suggests is a day walking in the shoes of others when our lives seem so difficult.

The wonderful news is that compared to 20 or 50 years ago, we are phenomenally better off today.

EXERCISE:

Where could putting yourself in other people’s shoes help you be far more satisfied and appreciative of your life?

To learn more, consider checking out Hans Rosling’s TED Talk.

Be yourself and the right people will love you

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“Don’t change so people will like you. Be yourself and the right people will love you.”

—Author Unknown

Image of a smart phone showing no signal

Image from Wilson Amplifers

Did you know that in 2016 cell phone usage around the world was estimated at 62.9%? This number is expected to grow to almost 70% by 2019, when more than five billion people will be using them.

The numerous companies fighting for their share of this market all claim the best signals, widest coverage, and fastest speeds to attract more customers.

How often have you found yourself in a dead zone, with dropped calls and few or no bars on your screen? When that happens, most of us simply change our position, driving a bit further until we get back into signal range.

EXERCISE:

Instead of trying to connect with others by changing yourself, how could you boost your own authentic and powerful signal to attract the people who will love you?

The better you know yourself

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“The better you know yourself, the better your relationship with the rest of the world.”

—Toni Collette, Australian actress and musician

Image of "Soul Experience" book cover

Image from Amazon.com

If you were to rate yourself on your ability to create and sustain relationships, how would you score?

Take a look at your most closely held and cherished relationships and see what values and beliefs connect you to those people. The better you truly know and live these core values the better you can choose and navigate in your personal and professional communities.

This inner wisdom can help you better lead yourself and others who resonate with similar energies.

EXERCISE:

Consider reading the book Soul Experience – The 4th Level of Identity, by Al Killeen, to help you get to know yourself better.

Friday Review Self Awareness

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Friday Review: Self Awareness

Self awareness is critical to growth. Here are a few posts you may have missed. Click the link to read the full message.

 

“Do not wish to be anything but what you are, and try to be that perfectly.”

 

 

 

“If we take care of the moments, the years will take care of themselves.”

 

 

 

“Believe in yourself a little more.”

 

 

 

Its Got to Happen Inside First

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“It’s got to happen inside first.”

—Jim Morrison, Late leader of The Doors

Image of a forest reflected in a lake

Image from Unsplash by Johannes Plenio

Over the last year or two you may have noticed a higher percentage of Quotable Coach posts related to self-awareness and general mindfulness.

The inner worlds of our thoughts, feelings, and emotions are fundamental to what occurs or potentially can occur in our outer worlds.

Observing your outer personal and professional communities can also clue you in to what those around you are thinking and feeling. It’s much like having super powers of x-ray vision and the ability to read minds.

EXERCISE:

How can you become far more masterful at navigating and exploring your own and others inner worlds as a first step to manifesting your most desirable outer realities?

Never Say Anything About Yourself

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“Never say anything about yourself you do not want to come true.”

—Brian Tracy, Canadian-American Motivational Speaker/Author

Image from news247.gr

Self-talk is a fascinating subject.

We all do it, and given your interest in personal growth and development as a subscriber to this blog, you are more aware and mindful of this than many.

What percent of the time do you focus on the negative rather than positive side of your self-talk equation?

What if 50 percent of your internal conversations were beyond or beneath your awareness?

EXERCISE:

This week, enlist family, friends, and colleagues to help make you much more conscious of when you put your inner voice on external speakers.

Based on their feedback and input, determine exactly how many of these message you want to come true for you.

How can and will you enhance these messages to live a more positive and fulfilling life?

You Can’t Grow Yourself Unless You Know Yourself

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“You can’t grow yourself unless you know yourself.”

—John Maxwell, American Author on Leadership

Last year was my Big “60.”  I read Daniel Pink’s new book, WHEN: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing recently. Pink points to certain dates, times, and even years in which people tend to embark on the more tectonic shifts in their lives.

My journey and exploration includes books, blogs, podcasts, and a year-long practice of daily meditation. With over 100 hours of quiet reflection, I am seeing more and more opportunities for growth in the hopeful years ahead.

EXERCISE:

What activities and efforts can and will you engage in today and in the years ahead to better “know yourself to grow yourself”?

Six Honest Serving Men

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“I keep six honest serving men: (They taught me all I knew) Their names were Where and What and When and Why and How and Who.”

—Rudyard Kipling, 20th Century English Journalist & Poet

Begin a conversation with any of the Six Honest Serving Men from Kipling’s quote and you’re off to a great start in learning something new. You may even develop or nurture a new or existing relationship.

Powerful open-ended questions beginning with one of the Six Honest Serving Men open doors to new knowledge. They also demonstrate a genuine interest in others, which we all relish.

For today, I suggest you direct these probing and door-opening words toward yourself, to see what new worlds of discovery lie within.

EXERCISE:

Ask and answer some of your most important and pressing questions of the day. Then consider asking “What Else?” to see what you can learn by probing deeper than your surface answers.

Unmapped Country Within Us

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“There is a great deal of unmapped country within us.”

—George Elliot, pen name of Mary Anne Evans, Victorian-era British author

Image of an ancient map

ancient map for crossing the ocean, from Pinterest

Have you ever met a map-maker?

It’s a profession not likely to be in the top-ten career tracks at our universities!

If you were to meet one today, they would most likely be mapping the unchartered parts of our world, including the depths of the seas, or the planets and moons of our solar system and beyond.

What if all of us were actually map-makers at heart, somewhat untrained, but still able to explore and discover worlds within us?

What possible adventures and new or interesting territories might lie ahead if you put on your “explorer” hat?

EXERCISE:

What actions and efforts can you take to become your own Magellan, Columbus, or Captain Kirk to better map out your inner world?

The Most Neglected Friend

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“Probably the most neglected friend you have is you.”

—L. Ron Hubbard, Founder of the Church of Scientology

Image of a man photographing himself in a mirror

Image from Flickr by joelleen

Who are your very closest and best friends? Take a moment to list them by name. You may even choose to look back to your school years, and the different cities or towns in which you have lived throughout your life.

Did you put yourself on the list?

If you didn’t, you are not alone.

For some reason, the majority of people who take on this exercise rarely include themselves.
What are the reasons for the omission?
Why do so many of us neglect, ignore, or simply not consider our relationship with ourselves of paramount importance?

EXERCISE:

How and in what ways can you befriend yourself far more, from this point forward?
Consider reversing the Golden Rule and do for yourself what you do for others, as a starting point.