From Reaction to Reflection: The Importance of Self-Awareness

I write about the importance of awareness a lot, especially over the past year. I’ve written blogs, and articles, and spoken about it in my videos. It’s just so critical to self-care – awareness. It’s the first essential step to changing how we approach issues and problems. Without becoming aware that there is an issue, and how we feel about it, there is no way to go further.

When I’m short with someone and don’t want to be, the first thing I need to do is to become aware of my feelings – annoyance, tension in my chest, anger perhaps. Whatever it is, I need to know. Do I feel a repulsion of some kind? Or an opposition in viewpoint? Or a conflict of beliefs? Do I simply want to give up and keep quiet because doing anything else seems too overwhelming?

The thing is, once I know what’s happening for me, then I can decide how to approach it. I can deliberately find ways of bettering the situation, or of beating it. In my experience, bettering is always preferable, if only because I feel good about myself. It feeds my spirit and gives me energy.

It always begins with awareness.

For more on awareness, I refer you to my blog Navigating The Illusion Of Urgency In Unstable Times

Quote of the Week

Awareness is the greatest agent for change.

― Eckhart Tolle

Respond or react? - the strongest nervous system wins 

Announcements

Maryanne Nicholls is a Registered Psychotherapist.  To find out more, gain access to her weekly newsletter, meditations and programs, sign up at www.thejoyofliving.co .