15/10/2023
Day 1: Alphabet A
Awareness:
To begin this series is this all important subject matter of awareness. In this case self-awareness.
We are not born with complete knowledge of who we are, it is something we learn about as we progress and grow. Just the way children takes time to adapt to their environment, and be able to distinguish between who their parents are and who their parents are not, as adults, we can grow to distinguish between who we really are, and who we are not.
Self-awareness is very critical in the journey of personal growth, because every other thing, rests on it. But what does it really mean to be self-aware? Or what should we really know about ourselves to drive us towards the journey of purpose discovery?
Before we start, I would want to let us know that self-discovery isn't about conforming to norms or societal beliefs. What people feel about you, or expect from you. What I mean is this, as an individual, you are distinct from the other person next to you, and it is this uniqueness that sets you apart. So, you have to embrace that uniqueness.
To know oneself or become aware of oneself, you need to know what makes you who you are. Your strengths, your weaknesses, your emotions, your beliefs (what are your beliefs?), Your values.
There are three essential Ws in the journey of self-awareness.
1. Where are you coming from? How have your experiences, your background, your environment, shaped you? What do you know about where you are coming from? And what can you say about it? What is your story? If you are asked to write a story about yourself with you as the main character, what would the story be? How has where you are coming from affected or impacted beliefs on you? What do you feel your abilities are, how did they form?
Please get a pen and paper and write these down.
One thing about self-awareness is introspection. It is not something that happens once. No, it takes time, but it is a sweet ride.
2. Where are you now? What lights up your heart? That's your passion. Write it down. What aspects of your life have you grown or have become stronger in? In the present, what are your weak points? We need to realize that we change every day, so, we should also evolve in our knowledge about ourselves. What is your current reality? Are you happy with it? Can you do better? Are you responsible for your current reality or someone else is responsible?
Self -awareness also involved taking responsibility of your current state, you are the architect of your life. Even though you were disadvantaged or didn't have all the resources at your disposal, what did you do with what you had?
3. Where are you going? The last W in our today's discuss. Where are you going? If you are to become anything in life, what would it be? If you have the ability to change your life to become exactly what you desire, what will that be? If you have all the resources available, and can snap your finger and get whatever you want, how can it be beneficial to the society? What one solution will you solve? Assuming you are to take care of a situation you don't like, what would you be taking care of? Who do you look up to? What ar your goals and aspirations?
Little exercise to help you become self-aware
1. Self-reflection : What have you found about yourself? Do you love yourself? How can you be more kind to yourself?
2. Meditation and mindfulness : Practice meditation and mindfulness.
3. Journaling: If I were you, I will read this write up again, this time with a pen and paper. Taking notes and answering questions as they pop up in my heart.
To your prosperity,
Okechukwu Francis Okoronkwo
Beyond Bounds Academy
