Practice to increase self awareness
Notice how you are feeling during the day and your reaction to situations, simply observe how you are without judging this.
Several times during the day spend ten to twenty seconds and notice the state of your body. Start at the top of the head and work down to the feet noticing any tension in the muscles, any sensations in the body and any movements of the body.
Notice what emotions you are experiencing. Observe to yourself “I am noticing that I am feeling…………” .and describe the emotion (see list).
Observe the thoughts in your mind and describe the process – planning, remembering, observing, and notice the content – what you are thinking about – family, work, finances.
Notice your behavior – the actions that you are doing and the manner in which you are doing them –( impatiently, carefully, absentmindedly, resentfully, enthusiastically).
What would someone else notice if they were observing you?
Consider keeping a journal of what you notice.
(Words describing emotions include – calm, sad, irritable, nervous, content, angry, despairing, lonely, happy, guilty, excited, ashamed, miserable, delighted, melancholy, ecstatic, gloomy, anxious, joyous, peaceful, confused, embarrassed, pleased, loving, fearful, hopeless, discontented, worried, proud, exuberant, curious, serene, disdainful, hopeful ,rejected, relaxed, wistful, nostalgic, furious ,jovial, glad, empty, expectant, surprised, disgusted, cheerful)
Anaïs Nin: (French author 1903-1977)
“We don't see things as they are, we see them as we are.”
Buddha:
“If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly, our whole life would change.”
“It's a hell of a start, being able to recognize what makes you happy.”
Lucille Ball.
"Losing an illusion makes you wiser than finding a truth."
Ludwig Borne, (German political writer 1786-1837)
"The life which is unexamined is not worth living."
Plato, APOLOGY OF SOCRATES
"The most difficult thing in life is to know yourself."
THALES (Greek philosopher 624 BC- 546 BC)
