Living your life according to your own values, following the path that feels right to you; how do you do that? Do you feel free and strong enough to really make your own choices? Or would you like to be more aware of what suits your own identity?
Living an authentic life starts with being self-conscious. And so you can train.
When are you self-aware?
“With awareness of its own inner strength and value,” Van Dale describes the adjective “self-conscious.” Self-awareness has to do with the awareness of one’s own existence and the experience of what goes on in your mind and body. Self-aware people tune their choices to what they need internally – and what they don’t need. They are aware of the patterns in their daily lives and see how those patterns influence their existence.
In other words: whoever is self-aware is able to live with full conviction from his or her own heart. And that can be quite a challenge. Certainly in a world where the expectations seem to be sky high. In which we are confronted every day with a hundred choices where we prefer – if possible – to make the decision yesterday rather than today.
It is all the more important to trust your own intuition. In order not to get caught in the web of external influences, but to lead your life from your inner strength and value.
Well, we all want that. But how do we do that?
Personal process
If you want to increase your self-awareness, there are at least two important rules that you must remember. One: being self-aware is not a goal in itself, but a path that you follow during your life. Two: there is not one universal way to become more self-aware. It is a very personal process.
Fortunately, there are a number of general steps that everyone can take. They come from renowned wellness expert Sadie Lincoln and help you in the right direction.
Discover which frequency of ‘training’ suits you
Just like those muscular arms and a better condition, your self-awareness does not come around at once. Regular training is therefore key . Make training your self-awareness part of your daily life, but do it in a way that suits you. Do you want to plan a self-conscious moment every day? Which can. Would you prefer to consider your own identity once a week? Also fine. Be realistic and don’t force yourself to spend too much time on your exercise. It must remain fun and challenging and not become a tough obligation.
Which exercise suits you?
There are countless methods for practicing self awareness. Don’t be distracted by what someone else is doing, because you are the best teacher yourself. Do you like to meditate? Do you prefer to work with a coach? Do you get your self-reflection from laying tarot cards or do you like to gain insight into your way of thinking by writing off your thoughts? In the end it is about consciously paying attention to who you are in the way that suits you.
Focus on your body
What does your body need on a physical and mental level? If you keep that question in mind while exercising or exercising, you build up more than just muscles and fitness. After all, you are working on mindfulness during exercise and that increases your self-awareness. One of the most effective ways to exercise mindful is by focusing on your breathing. You can apply this in any way of movement. During your next workout, try to breathe in and out very consciously, calmly and timidly and feel what is happening in your body.
Make self-awareness part of your daily life
Eventually you will notice that your self-awareness exercises will feel more natural. The feeling of ‘training’ becomes less and self-awareness becomes part of your daily routine instead. When you are out of balance, have had a stressful day or are faced with a difficult choice, you will experience the emotions that come with it more consciously. And that makes you more self-aware.
An example: it will be easier to reset your body and mind after a period of stress, because you are very aware of that stress. Instead of rumbling on at full power, you choose what is good for you. You follow your own path and do it more and more frequently, because it is becoming your way of life .
You don’t have to do it alone
Does it feel awkward to reflect on your own identity and are the above steps not your thing? Then do not write it off immediately, but seek help. That can be in the form of a book, a coach, a buddy, you name it . When you have something or someone that you can fall back on during your journey to a more self-conscious life, you are less inclined to drop the ax. In addition: reflecting together is sometimes even more fun (and more useful!) Than alone.
Finally, remember that self-conscious life does not have to be stressful. Do it your way and reap the benefits from it. After all, it is your path and your identity. Do you feel free and strong enough to really live your own life? That’s what it’s about.
