Tag Archives: self-awareness

Your way of being in the world

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Your way of being in the world has a profound influence on yourself and those around you.

—Calm App Reflection

Image from Unsplash by Marcos Paulo Prado

Your way of being in the world profoundly shapes not only your own life but also the lives of those around you.

Every thought, action, and attitude creates ripples that influence your environment.

When you approach life with kindness, openness, and positivity, you foster trust and inspire others to do the same. Conversely, negativity or indifference can create barriers and dampen the energy of those nearby.

Your presence — how you listen, respond, and engage — sets the tone for relationships and community.

By cultivating self-awareness and embracing empathy, you become a powerful force for positive change.

Your way of being is not just a personal journey — it’s a shared experience that impacts the world in meaningful ways.

Choose to be a light that uplifts and connects.

EXERCISE:

What role does self-awareness play in shaping your way of being? How can you apply these insights to have a more positive influence on others in your various communities?

“You are under no obligation to be the same person you were five minutes ago.”

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“You are under no obligation to be the same person you were five minutes ago.”

—Alan Watts, 20th Century British/American writer, speaker, philosopher

Image from Unsplash by Richard Burton

We recently attended a good friend’s 90th birthday party. The big event included about 75 close friends and family from far and wide. Besides children, grandchildren, and a few members of the younger generation, the majority of attendees were well into their senior years.

Along with a delicious buffet, they had a DJ playing tunes from the past, and a photo montage of our friend from the days of his youth until today.  It was remarkable to see how he and most of the audience remembered every word to these songs and to see how in many ways he continued to evolve during the milestone moments of his life. We have already been invited to his 100th celebration, in which — I am sure — he will be an even more remarkable guy than today!

EXERCISE:

In what ways do you continue to learn, grow, and evolve with each passing day? How can you be an even more intentional work in progress as you step into the future you?

What the new year brings to you will depend

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“What the new year brings to you will depend a great deal on what you bring to the new year.”

—Vern McLellan, author, speaker, broadcaster, and musician

Image from Unsplash by Kelly Sikkema

Charles Lamb is known for saying “New Years Day is every man’s birthday.”

To celebrate we get a fresh start and a “do over” if there are regrets about the year gone by.

Although this is a man-made point in time to begin again, why not use it since everyone else is on the same page and expects it?

To bring a new you to the new year, consider the wisdom of Tuli Kupferberg’s statement: ”When patterns are broken, new worlds emerge.”

EXERCISE:

What new worlds do you want to emerge?

What new patterns will you bring to the new year to realize this new world for yourself and others in your communities?

The spotlight effect has us think that we are the center of other people’s attention

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The spotlight effect has us think that we are the center of other people’s attention. We’re not!

—Calm App Reflection

Image from Unsplash by Jason Goodman

Have you ever attended a networking event to promote your business, your product, or even yourself? These are gatherings where you can (hopefully) make a good impression on others by offering your sixty second commercial or a thirty second elevator pitch.

For many people, such events create a bit of fear or trepidation, knowing that all eyes are on you as you speak.

The truth in these situations is that during these moments everyone else is so concerned with what they intend to say that they actually pay little or no attention to you.

EXERCISE:

Where in your personal or professional world do you worry and fret about being in the spotlight?

How can knowing that others are paying little attention to you put you at ease and support your well-being in these social and professional situations?

What insights have you discovered from turning inward lately

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What insights have you discovered from turning inward lately?

—Calm App Reflection

Image from Unsplash by Tingey Injury Law Firm

Over the dozen or so years that I have been writing this blog, I’ve referred to many strategies and techniques to journey inward, in order to gain even greater insight into oneself and the world.

Perhaps you have adopted practices such as forest bathing and embracing the natural world, meditation, or finding moments to slip into silence to tap into your own inner voice and wisdom.

Have you ever worked with a coach?

If so, you may also have found the inquiry generated through powerful questions and thoughtful reflection very revealing.

Peeling back the layers of our awareness helps us explore more of own soulful guidance to living a more engaging and meaningful life.

EXERCISE:

How and in what ways do you look within yourself for better answers and insights?

What new and different approaches can and will you explore to aid in your discovery?

Contemplate how your inner narrative influences how you see yourself

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Contemplate how your inner narrative influences how you see yourself and the world. Remember, we always have the power to write a new chapter and tell a more empowering story.

—Calm App Reflection

Image from Unsplash by Jakob Owens

What are some of your favorite movies?

Close your eyes and visualize the lead characters and the story told through the wordsmithing skills of the screenwriters.

What made these diversions in your day so engaging and memorable?

Consider the idea that you are making a movie and that your inner narrative is the screenplay on which it is based. Who would be interested in seeing this movie and what actor would you want to play you?

EXERCISE:

Write a short story based about a new and more interesting you. How could this exercise add a bit more excitement and engagement to the life you are actually leading?

Make a mistake? Release the guilt, remember the lesson

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“Make a mistake? Release the guilt, remember the lesson.”

—James Clear, author of Atomic Habits

Image from Unsplash by Francisco De Legarreta C.

Today’s quote contains three separate nuggets of coaching:

  1. It encourages us to experiment and try new things.
  2. It tells us to release the guilt or shame many of us experience when we fail or come up short of what we intend.
  3. It urges us to be mindful of these events so that we capture the knowledge and wisdom gained from these experiences.

EXERCISE:

How frequently do you stretch yourself to try new things that may or may not work?

How caring and compassionate are you with yourself when you fail or make mistakes?

How do you capture and keep the lessons learned to limit or prevent yourself from making similar mistakes in the future?

Notice nothingness. Discover the peace and power in the presence of absence.

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Notice nothingness. Discover the peace and power in the presence of absence.

—Calm App Reflection

Image from Unsplash by Noah Silliman

Have you ever spent time in an isolation chamber? Not me!

I think that would be too much nothing. What about the use of room darkening shades and a set of noise cancellation headphones?

We tend to live in a noisy, lights-on world where the presence of absence is absent.

How and where do you escape the barrage of stimuli that can drain your power and disturb the peace?

EXERCISE:

Where in your world is it possible to turn down the volume and turn off the lights?

Try a few experiments this week and discover the peace and power in their absence.

Try playing with your other senses and see where your mind wanders in this open field of awareness.

The way you look at things is the most powerful force shaping your life

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“The way you look at things is the most powerful force shaping your life.”

—John O’ Donohue, late Irish poet, author, Hegelian philosopher

Image from Unsplash by Bradley Pisney

Today’s quote is an excellent reminder to develop and cultivate our self-awareness and mindfulness abilities.

When we choose to adopt constructive perspectives and attitudes, we can harness our powers of perception to create a more fulfilling and meaningful life.

If and when we look at things from a negative or closed mindset, we limit our abilities to navigate life’s challenges and complexities.

EXERCISE:

How can and will you exercise and develop your powers of perception to shape your life and your world for the better?