Self-Awareness

Going back in time, I was not the smartest on this topic at all. The most I knew was I got up the noses of my colleagues when I was involved in everyone’s business. I would do this?if?I?felt it?was going to be of use to the business. I also knew, my tone of voice could land me in hot water along with my insistence that others move at a pace that I wanted them to. The push?back was?vocal and painful at times. I learnt to moderate?this over?time but that did not?make me any less pushy. But I soon realised the merit in working with people rather than raising their hackles.???

My next brush with?self-awareness?was when?I did?360-degree?feedback surveys. Looking back now, not too many startling things came out of these,?over the years. One thing that irritated me was that I was perceived as the execution queen and not very strategically inclined. At the time I thought will someone explain what this is, in simple language and I will get my head around it. It is only with the start up, I learnt for myself what this really means. I am still not sure if I have mastered this?illusive?competence.???

As I graduated in the?self-awareness?stakes in the eyes of those in the Talent development side of the business, I become a fixture at the company’s assessment centres. I enjoyed myself I dare say at the expense of the participants. All?good fun. The thing that stood out for me was the confusion in the minds of the participants who had to process so many different views of themselves. As observers, we were quite different, and happily gave our insights about what we thought they needed to improve. Though we agreed on the feedback on an overall basis, our interpretation of that was tarnished by our world view. ??

The participants had to process this and marry it up with their own take on themselves, to make sense of it all. This was a herculean task. Especially?hard if?they had not done any introspection before. In fact, couple of the smart ones wanted to know, why I was giving feedback when I had not been on the receiving end of an assessment centre, myself. This I?must?admit,?was a great question. Bit like “physician heal thyself” which I fully subscribe to.???

Travelling down life’s twisting road, many crucibles came my way to help me on the introspective journey. I realised what made me tick in many aspects of my life. Resilience, courage, speaking out and transparency. It was the school of hard?knocks?but it ironed out what I stood for, from my core. For that, I?must?be grateful for?these crucibles, though at the time they were the bitterest of pills.???

Fast forward to 2016 with the launch of?Stridez, the application?we?developed. The product did not fly off the shelves. Time to really?notch up the introspection to learn some serious lessons. It took me a good 6 months to learn those lessons. One of which, is powerfully said in Rumi’s quote “Yesterday I was clever, I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, I am changing myself” With that the whole Know Thyself obsession started. I wanted to?unpeel?various layers of myself, understand them, make?meaning?and then share it with the world. This I?was?convinced will nudge folk to think for about themselves and help them respond to the world more?effectively.?Let us see how the future unfolds with the?belief.???

As I type each chapter, I?observe?myself like a specimen. Makes me understand myself better and more importantly, helps me decide on the right path forward for each aspect of my life.?Some areas?needed?an overhaul for me to me a better person. Mental cages,?Impact,?and Influence, finding higher purpose and Personal Branding pop into my mind.??Slowly but surely, I am moving in the right direction of growth and maturity. For that I am extremely grateful.???

In my thinking, this is a cycle of improvement.???

Knowing Thyself - Which is a huge journey and?sometimes?we are deceived by fronts or protective mechanisms that we have built for ourselves. It will take time to peep under these screens.???

The urge to change- Once we understand ourselves, there is an urge born to change how we?operate?so that we are more empowered. This is unique to each person. Whatever we decide to follow, it should elevate our souls, give us inner peace and a sense of achievement. For me anyway, those three are most important in life.???

This?is an ongoing basis with no real end. As we advance, we need to Know Ourselves further and decide on the path to travel forward. And?so,?the cycle continues. I doubt I would have been able to do this some years ago. What I?produce?in the future will be different to what I know and how I act now.???

It would also seem some are happy going through life not needing to Know Thyself. While others, make it a bit of an obsession. Then there are many who are somewhere between.?There?is the hand of the universe at play as to where we fit in. But I might be widely wrong.???

I also watched the Ted talk about?self-awareness?from Tasha?Eurich. She makes a valid point about not dwelling on the why of Know Ourselves. It can make us unhappy and confused. Best to look at?the what?and the future when we embark on this journey. As mentioned above, understand our status quo and work on the path forward. Great advice to be productive and happy.???

?What is your understanding of this Topic????

What do you think of my take on it????

Is this something that interests you????

What aspects would you like to?delve?into????

What are some challenges you face in Knowing Thyself??? ?

What would you do?because of?Knowing Thyself? ?