There is much written and said about human self-awareness. Things like we should know who we are, what we want, what our values are, and what we like and don’t like. These aspects define us as humans. They make us different and unique. Based on this, we think, analyze, and make decisions.
Self-awareness is a superpower.
Knowing ourselves, our good and bad habits, how to create and stop them allows us to improve ourselves and cultivate better and healthier habits. We can’t fix what we can’t see.
Learning how to be self-aware and catching ourselves takes mental effort and energy. We have to constantly be checking on ourselves, on whether what we said or did was right. I’m not talking about doubting or second-guessing ourselves, so please don’t confuse one with the other.
Catching ourselves could be just checking on whether we chose the correct timing, turf, and tone of voice for a specific conversation. It could also be thinking, reflecting, and taking actions on something we did but didn’t feel comfortable doing, so we won’t do it again.
Self-awareness doesn’t come naturally to most of us, but it’s not impossible to develop it – just as most life skills.
What’s the last time you caught yourself doing something you shouldn’t be doing?
Richard Chan 