How to Cultivate Self-Awareness by Coach Anjalon Wimbush

Admin
Feb 3
3 min read

You know what self-awareness is and you know what the benefits are. But do you truly know how to cultivate your own self-awareness so you can start doing something with the knowledge you discover? Here we will identify some simple ways to dig deeper within for a deeper sense of self-awareness.

BENEFITS OF CULTIVATING SELF-AWARENESS

It is already determined that there are many benefits to developing your self-awareness to make impactful change in your life. Practicing self-awareness can help you make better decisions for yourself. The awakening in having self-knowledge empowers your ability to make decisions based on the information you now know. Lean in to what you are learning about yourself and be confident in the choices you make based on that information. As they say in Mindfulness, "read your book".

Another benefit is that self-awareness can reduce your stress. You will be able to more clearly identify your triggers to discomfort and unpleasant experiences that affect your mind, body, and spirit. Having realization of these events can ease your mind, therefore reducing the impact of stress because with that self-knowledge you have choice. When you have choices, you can improve your relationship with the stressors. "I am unbothered with that today" and "This moment will pass".

Fortunately, when you gain more self-awareness and make better choices for you, your relationships with others will be transformed as well. The people who have contributed to your stress, no longer penetrate your personal space because you set boundaries. A simple "No" to them would suffice. What you truly want in life will manifest itself, allowing for deeper connection with who you want to have more meaningful relationships with.

HOW TO CULTIVATE YOUR SELF-AWARENESS

I will share with you 4 ways to get started with cultivating the self-awareness you long to have with yourself:

Journaling is a soothing practice in itself. But as a tool, it can give you perspective on what you are experiencing mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. You can brain dump, which is writing down whatever comes to mind. You can plan and lay out your ideas or next steps. You can list what you are grateful for on a daily basis, which has been scientifically proven to improve your level of happiness over time. Imagine that, being completely happy with the life you are grateful for! It takes consistency, some intentionality, and devotion but journaling is a gift to yourself!
Mindfulness practices are another gift. It can be as simple as taking in deep breaths before responding to something or someone. Mindfulness is a reminder to yourself to be present, here in the body. To reconnect with your five senses and acknowledge how you are affected by situations is a deeper sense of self-awareness that often gets overlooked. The simplicity of it is also the most difficult practice to do. To see things for what they are and sit with them. To go through instead of avoiding.
Welcome Feedback from others. This may even include people that you really don't know. Because if you are a spiritual person, you understand when God puts certain people in your path to send you a message. However, if you are closed off or distracted you may miss your message all together. If you want to really have self-awareness, be willing to accept what someone else's perspective of you is. Sometimes, we just don't realize how we come off because we are in it. An outside opinion is just knowledge, not facts. Maybe someone has you all wrong, but its important to know that you may present in a certain way. And have discernment, because sometimes people are trying to throw you completely off and have ill will. Learn to know the difference in genuineness.
Check-in with your Emotions. Its easy to lean in to the good feelings, the happy, exciting, and loving emotions. However, we can learn alot from the unpleasant, uncomfortable, negative emotions. This is how we grow- by feeling the emotion, not running from them. The only way to overcome it, in a healing way, is to go through it. What does expressing your emotions look like for you? This is the self-awareness many do not want to experience but once they do, its enlightening and refreshing!

If you struggle with developing your self-awareness or just need accountability along your journey, please reach out to me. As a Self-Care Coach, my goal is to facilitate your self-care journey through self-awareness and therapeutic exercises. Click Here to schedule a time for us to chat about how I can support you!

Coach Anjalon Wimbush is a social worker by trade. She is passionate about helping others develop a nourishing self-care journey, work with her Today!