Another strength successful people embrace is self-awareness. You must know yourself to succeed at anything, especially your highest goals. That’s not a new concept; Sun Tzu wrote about it over 2500 years ago!

You have multiple options for cultivating self-awareness. A few of them are described below. Try different ones and see which works best for you. You can also combine the other methods.

Practice Mindfulness

Mindfulness is the practice of being fully present and paying attention to your thoughts and all the feelings that run through your mind and body as they occur. When you’re being mindful, you’re not judging these things, merely observing what comes and goes.

There are many guides to starting a mindful practice online and in print. It’s different from meditation; you don’t have to drop everything once you learn how. You are being cognizant while completing activities is one of the primary goals of the practice.

Take Time for Reflection

Set some time aside regularly to be by yourself. Reflect on what’s been happening in your life, your actions, feelings, and goals. Are you satisfied? Have you been on the right path? Are there things you need to change? Is something going wrong? Have you done something you need to make amends?

Take these questions seriously and give each of them serious thought. You must do this and pick a time you won’t be interrupted. It is a solitary process that requires focus.

Journal

Journaling is similar; you can combine it with reflection, but it can also be a standalone practice. All you need to journal is a notebook and a pen, but you can buy a journal if you like. You can write about a particular topic, use whatever is on your mind or happened that day, use a prompt, or free write whatever comes up.

You need to journal for several minutes at least a few times a week for it to be effective. You can start writing for as little as 5 minutes, but 15-30 minutes is better. Set a timer and write until it goes off.

Ask for Feedback

This method is unpopular because many feel embarrassed but asking for feedback on your actions and goals is a great way to become more self-aware. Ask someone you trust to tell you the truth and be ready to deal with whatever they say without reacting badly.

Until next time, stay safe, and keep the faith.