On Self-awareness
Self-awareness is a training ground for the development of qualities that will impact the relationship you have with yourself and with other people.
5 Star Review of The Way Forward:
“Can't go wrong if you've read his earlier works. I think I dog-eared almost every page.”
The Way Forward is 23% off on Amazon and available in bookstores.
There is an undeniable connection between the relationship you have with yourself and the relationship you have with another. If you cannot see yourself, then you will certainly struggle to see another well. This is why the cultivation of self-awareness is critical not only for those seeking a fulfilling life, but also for anyone who understands the value of appreciating the perspective of another.
Self-awareness helps you see that within you there is a vast universe, one filled with a variety of emotions, viewpoints, patterns and so much more. It helps you embrace the complexity that gives you your identity. When you can appreciate your own depth and the range of your own emotions, it starts to dawn on you that you are not the only one who feels so much. You start deeply appreciating that the same way you struggle, others struggle too. Self-awareness opens the door to compassion.
You cannot see the depth of your imperfections, the mistakes you have made in the past and moments in your life where you could have made better choices, without the power of self-awareness. Self-awareness is not meant to be a quality that produces the feeling of regret, instead it is meant for the development of objective observation so that you can understand who you are and what you have gone through.
Self-awareness helps you take an honest survey so that you can move forward with all the information that you need to adjust your actions. Self-awareness helps you see that perfection is not possible, but progress is. When you can come to terms with the ups and downs of your own life, patience starts blooming for yourself and other people.
Self-awareness also helps you pierce through a lot of the mental conditioning that you never asked for. Through self-awareness you come in contact with your genuine preferences and aspirations, not the things society wants you to strive for but what authentically feels nourishing for you to spend your energy on.
Self-awareness essentially becomes a training ground for the development of qualities that will impact the relationship you have with yourself and with other people. As your self-awareness grows, you become less demanding and more accepting. Instead of craving perfection, you start working with the fact that imperfection is unavoidable.
Some people develop self-awareness through journaling, others through meditation, and some through the straightforward practice of not running away from their emotions when they feel turbulent. In any case, self-awareness is growing when the knowledge you are accruing about yourself starts impacting your actions in a positive manner.
Harmonious relationships, where love keeps elevating, are deeply supported and, in many cases, are made possible by the cultivation of self-awareness. Self-awareness is initially the gift you give yourself, but it automatically expands your capacity so that you can show up for others in a more supportive and genuine way.
Click the subscribe now button so you can receive new longer writings every week. It costs 5 dollars a month USD or 50 dollars for the whole year (two months free). Free subscribers will continue to get longer writing once a month.
Education:
I want to take a moment to highlight Wayfinder, an incredible company that is helping students develop emotional intelligence. The VC company I co-founded, Wisdom Ventures, has invested in Wayfinder because they are working hard on creating a more compassionate future. If you work in the education field, check out this program.
Wayfinder was born at the Stanford d.school after asking one key design question: How can we reimagine education to develop a student’s sense of meaning, purpose, and belonging? Wayfinder's K-12 curriculum supports students in developing belonging + purpose by meaningfully connecting with their inner selves, their local communities, and the wider world. Learn more here.
Podcast:
Had a really deep and beautiful conversation with my friend Danny Miranda on his podcast the other day. We talked a lot about the 45 day retreat that I just sat and all the lessons that came from it. Hope this one serves you well! You can listen to it here.
Beautiful 🥹🥲
Working on this as a way of connecting with my heart - listening for and letting it guide me.