21 Apr Become more self-aware to enjoy more happiness!
via the Huffington Post by Thai Nguyen
An old African proverb says, “When there is no enemy within, the enemies outside can do you no harm.”
Self-awareness is one of the most important skills for success. How you behave and respond to external situations is governed by internal mental processes. Self-awareness uncovers any destructive thought-patterns and unhealthy habits. This leads to better decision-making and behavioral responses.
Here are 12 exercises for greater self-awareness:
1. The three Why’s
Before acting on a decision, ask yourself “Why?” Follow up your response with another “Why?” And then a third. If you can find three good reasons to pursue something, you’ll have clarity and be more confident in your actions.
Being self-aware means knowing your motives and determining whether they’re reasonable.
2. Expand your emotional vocabulary
The philosopher Wittgenstein said, “The limits of my language means the limits of my world.”
Emotions create powerful physical and behavioral responses, and are more complex than “happy” or “sad.” Putting your feelings into words has a therapeutic effect on your brain; if you’re unable to articulate how you feel, that can create stress. Here’s a great list of “feeling words” to help with labeling your emotions. Increase your emotional vocabulary with one new word each day.
3. Practice saying “No” to yourself
The ability to say “No” to yourself — to put off short-term gratification for the long-term gain is an important life-skill. And like a muscle, it is strengthened with exercise. The more you practice saying “No” to small daily challenges, the better you can withstand major temptations.
There are plenty of daily temptations — social media, junk food, gossiping, Youtube. Make a goal of saying “No” to five different temptations each day…
…keep reading the full & original article HERE