Where to Start to Become Your Best Self

Often people think of a goal they want to achieve and do not take time to become more self-aware. It is impossible to reach a destination if you do not know your starting point? How do you know what to change if you do not know how you currently act? An increase in awareness of your behavior makes it possible to consider new possibilities. Self-awareness is a meta skill which is a foundational skill that allows other higher-level skills to be learned and developed. Self-development rests on your ability to recognize your goal and what is standing between you and achieving it. So how does one develop better self-awareness? 

First, it takes being aware of how you currently act. This means looking at your behaviors, reactions, beliefs, and habits. It also may mean looking at your background, and why you might make the choices you do. I call it using your inner mirror. Start by paying attention to the voice in your head and what it is saying to you. We all have a voice that speaks to us and often it is a critic. Slow your brain down long enough to hear how you talk to yourself and then determine the relevance and accuracy of the voice. You should also pay attention to your range of emotions and how you react in certain situations. Become more mindful and present in the moment and identify things you may not have noticed previously. 

Next, use what I call your outer mirror to gain a glimpse of how you impact others. How do they react around you? What do people say or not say around you? Are they choosing their words and if so, why? Try to gain environmental cues by noticing people’s body language. Do you ever pay attention to the tone of voice you use? This is important because at tone, people determine if you are for them or against them. Self-aware people understand how their behaviors affect others, so they gain insight into areas they need to change. 

Much of what motivates our behavior is trapped in our unconscious. To become more self-aware can help you to make better choices. When you develop your ability to tune into yourself and others, it allows you to identify things you can work on which will make you more successful when you pursue your goals.