How to Become More Self-Aware and Wildly Successful

Isn't it remarkable the things we learn as kids for developing self-awareness are the same things we can make a daily commitment to doing as adults?

Think about it:

• Focusing on our strengths and how we can derive happiness from the things we naturally do well keeps us positive and grounded
• Recognizing the way emotions like joy, awe, anger and sadness affect us and change the way we feel creates understanding and self-knowledge
• Being told kind words or feedback on how we're doing or being given a compliment (recognition and appreciation) boosts our self-esteem and helps us to establish beliefs and awareness of who we are

It also begs the larger question, what is self-awareness? And even further, why does it matter to me?

Self-awareness leads to a greater sense of being. It leads to a willingness to have a positive and nurturing thought life that gives us the creative and strategic freedom to be more productive at work and in life, and to feel more free mentally and emotionally. Does that sound lofty and fluffy? It shouldn't.

Because when you actualize these things, you develop the mental clarity that leads you to living a life on your terms. Honestly, that's what the good stuff is all about.

Self-awareness is the ability to understand and make sense of our emotions, and how we understand and know our character. Self-awareness matters immensely in leadership. Knowing our strengths, values, and beliefs helps us build a critical foundation of self-identity that guides us in everything we do.

Self-awareness is also the art of “reading the room” and recognizing how others perceive us when we’re connecting with them. We’re always observing how others are taking us in. Last, self-awareness is significantly aided by feedback we receive from others. We cannot rely only on self-knowledge— we’re enhanced and improved by the wisdom of others.

Learn more about what it means to be a Champion Leader: https://www.thechampionleaderbook.co/

Find the Opportunities and Build Your Game Plan

I encourage you today to work on cultivating self-awareness in your life on a daily basis. It's truly an equal opportunity skill set that all of us can work on each day. Develop the self-awareness to find opportunity in every challenge you face. Every time you're facing a challenging conversation, moment of conflict or something you'd rather avoid, think about getting back to your roots.

Because that's what self-awareness truly is.

It's your values, beliefs, purpose and knowledge of yourself that gives you the confidence to move forward everyday to live your best life.

Strengthening our self-awareness muscles allows us to recognize and understand who we are, how we’re doing, and how to improve. Self-awareness is informed by feedback, positive or constructive. I've found in my work that champion leaders are willing to commit to a lifelong leadership education that begins with self-awareness.

It's this incredibly firm foundation that leads to an extraordinarily successful life and career. In this spirit, I encourage you to build your game plan. What's your game plan? It's composed of these qualities:

• Passion
• Values
• Strengths
• Purpose
• Mission
• Success Measures
• Goals

Now, here's the key:

Passion: The things that light the fire inside of you; that drive, motivate and inspire you every time you think about them or do them.

Values: A set of guiding principles and ideals that provide a standard for the way we behave and make decisions.

Strengths: The activities and personality traits that you have, and the things that you naturally do well

Purpose: Why you're doing what you're doing (the driving force or reasons behind setting your mission and goals).

Mission: If you're living and doing this, you will feel fulfilled, happy, successful and that you have meaning.

Success Measures: Standards by which we determine whether our process steps are living up to our definition of success.

Goals: Set “SMART” Goals (the tangible results you desire to achieve).

Processing our emotions and experiences is essential to helping us make sense of the past, find peace in the present and for moving forward to the future with confidence and self-assurance.

I ask you to think about, What have you found you can teach to your kids but also use for yourself in becoming more self-aware?

Terrific Trio

Let's finish with an exercise that you can add to your daily routine and implement each day to have a positive thought life that enables you to be more self-aware and able to then manage all of your daily responsibilities.

I love to call it the Terrific Trio:

1. Meditation, 5 minutes

In silence, close your eyes, get in a comfortable posture, and clear your mind of negative, anxious, or worrisome thoughts. Think positive things. Breathe slowly and easily and focus on your breathing. This is self-nurturing and should allow you the ability to free yourself of anything in your life that is holding you back.

The goal here is pure thoughts, free of any pressure, and filled with positive imagery and peace.

2. Affirmations and Gratitude, 5 minutes

Aloud or in your mind, speak positive affirmations over your life. Give yourself some grace. Be thankful for the blessings and great things in your life. Don’t be afraid to say things about yourself and others that will open your mind and allow you to come to peace with any regret, negativity, and hurt.

Say that you’re going to do the things you love — the things that bring your joy, fulfillment, and peace of mind. I know of no more worthwhile activity than speaking and writing the dreams over your life. When you fuse these with motivation, hard work, and goals, you are bound to achieve them over time.

3. Play-by-play, 5 minutes

Visualize yourself achieving the goals you set for yourself. See yourself celebrating bringing on a new customer. Picture yourself applauding a team member at the news of their promotion. See the “win.” This isn’t just about you. It’s about the other people in your life. Send positive thought energy into the environment.

To have a creative imagination that visualizes success, happiness, goal fulfillment, as well as altruistic wishes for others, you need to have clarity and positivity on your mind. Relying on your values, you have a foundation that allows you to exist in this state of mind.

If you choose, you can invest 15 minutes of time each day and reap maximum benefits to increase your self-awareness. A commitment to personal development doesn’t have to be time-consuming nor mentally exhausting. Quite the opposite. The benefits of growing your self-awareness will have a gigantic impact on both your life and career happiness, fulfillment, and success.

Every successful person's journey is rooted in self-awareness, self-confidence, courage and a willingness to seek and find the next opportunity. This all begins in our thought life-- in our minds-- and in the foundation we create for ourselves. Start by building this game plan and trio into your routine and you'll be on your way to a wildly successful life and career.

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Christopher D. Connors is the author of The Champion Leader (pre-order now- available in May) . He's a keynote speaker, executive coach, and globally recognized expert on emotional intelligence. Christopher consults with executives and leaders at Fortune 1000 companies and with organizations spanning many industries.

His writing has appeared in World Economic Forum, CNBC, Thrive Global, Virgin and Medium. He is the #1 best-selling author of Emotional Intelligence for the Modern Leader, one of the top selling emotional intelligence books in the world. He is also the creator of the top LinkedIn Learning course, Leading with Emotional Intelligence .