Self-Awareness Is Important

One of the keys to success is having a strong sense of self-awareness. You need to know what you are doing well, and what you are doing poorly on. It is important to have as objective and realistic of a measure as possible, not only of oneself, but also awareness of others and what is going on externally in the world. This allows you to avoid complacency, practice deliberately, and evolve.

This applies in many areas, from skills that you are learning, to your social interactions with others. For example, there are two sides to human nature: yourself, and how others outwardly interact with you. Recognize that you have a shadow side, and that you may have the bad qualities that you see in others without realizing. The same is true of others. Objectively analyze yourself and others.

Habits deliver numerous benefits, but the downside is that they can lock us into our previous patterns of thinking and acting—even when the world is shifting around us. Everything is impermanent. Life is constantly changing, so you need to periodically check in to see if your old habits and beliefs are still serving you. A lack of self-awareness is poison. Reflection and review is the antidote.

Ways of building self-awareness:

• Review and reflect through journaling

• Watch yourself through video recording

• Get feedback from others, as they see you from the outside and can offer more objective feedback that you cannot see about yourself, but beware that they can also be biased depending on their own interests. Try getting anonymous, unintended, or indirect feedback, which will be more genuine and objective.

References

Atomic Habits by James Clear

The Daily Laws by Robert Greene

The Laws of Human Nature by Robert Greene