How Self-Aware Are You?

Randi G. Fine | Life As A Human

If you were asked the question, “Who are you,” how would you respond? Would you state your name and occupation, describe your physical characteristics, and talk about the roles you play, or would you describe the true essence of your being? How you answer that question depends on your level of self-awareness.

Self-awareness is the method by which we recognize ourselves as individuals who are distinctly separate from other individuals and our surrounding environment. It is the introspective ability we each have to recognize our attitudes, needs, values, opinions, tendencies, reactions, thoughts, emotions, and aptitudes.

To be self-aware we must be able to look well beyond the roles we play, the things we do, and our physical attributes. These aspects of ourselves are certainly important and necessary, but in relation to all we are and all we can become, they play a very small role.

It is through self-awareness that we examine our pre-existing conditions, distinguishing those that are self-fulfilling from those that are self-limiting. We must be willing to challenge old beliefs and release the emotions that are attached to them.

Beginning in childhood we are given messages, sometimes subtle sometimes not, that we integrate into our thought processes. We are told what we are capable of doing and what we are not. These messages become part of our belief systems. Our belief systems define who we think we are.

As adults it is our responsibility to re-examine our pre-existing beliefs and identify the ones that are self-defeating, the ones that deprive us of our personal power. We never have to be stuck with our current thought processes or circumstances. Life is meant to be lived deliberately. That is why there are endless options to choose from.

As I look back over the years I see that much of my suffering could have been prevented by having keener self-awareness. My lack of self-awareness made me vulnerable to manipulation. Schemers marked me as someone they could easily take advantage of. Accidents happened because my mind was elsewhere. Predators observed my every move while I remained oblivious. I blindly believed in people whose only interest was benefiting themselves.

I do not blame myself for what happened or for my lack of awareness because I honestly did not know any better. Once I knew better I did better. We can only change what we understand; whether or not we choose to use the knowledge to better ourselves is entirely up to us.

Everyone suffers. No one goes through life unscathed. Ask anyone what they have gone through in life and be prepared to listen to at least three potentially victimizing life experiences, with little deliberation. The older one gets the more pain he will have lived through. We all suffer adversity, mishaps, tragedy. We all experience discouragement, stumbling blocks, frustration. But we do not all dwell on these things and we do not all becomes victims of life.

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