Tag Archives: self-awareness

The spotlight effect has us think that we are the center of other people’s attention

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The spotlight effect has us think that we are the center of other people’s attention. We’re not!

—Calm App Reflection

Image from Unsplash by Jason Goodman

Have you ever attended a networking event to promote your business, your product, or even yourself? These are gatherings where you can (hopefully) make a good impression on others by offering your sixty second commercial or a thirty second elevator pitch.

For many people, such events create a bit of fear or trepidation, knowing that all eyes are on you as you speak.

The truth in these situations is that during these moments everyone else is so concerned with what they intend to say that they actually pay little or no attention to you.

EXERCISE:

Where in your personal or professional world do you worry and fret about being in the spotlight?

How can knowing that others are paying little attention to you put you at ease and support your well-being in these social and professional situations?

What insights have you discovered from turning inward lately

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What insights have you discovered from turning inward lately?

—Calm App Reflection

Image from Unsplash by Tingey Injury Law Firm

Over the dozen or so years that I have been writing this blog, I’ve referred to many strategies and techniques to journey inward, in order to gain even greater insight into oneself and the world.

Perhaps you have adopted practices such as forest bathing and embracing the natural world, meditation, or finding moments to slip into silence to tap into your own inner voice and wisdom.

Have you ever worked with a coach?

If so, you may also have found the inquiry generated through powerful questions and thoughtful reflection very revealing.

Peeling back the layers of our awareness helps us explore more of own soulful guidance to living a more engaging and meaningful life.

EXERCISE:

How and in what ways do you look within yourself for better answers and insights?

What new and different approaches can and will you explore to aid in your discovery?

Contemplate how your inner narrative influences how you see yourself

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Contemplate how your inner narrative influences how you see yourself and the world. Remember, we always have the power to write a new chapter and tell a more empowering story.

—Calm App Reflection

Image from Unsplash by Jakob Owens

What are some of your favorite movies?

Close your eyes and visualize the lead characters and the story told through the wordsmithing skills of the screenwriters.

What made these diversions in your day so engaging and memorable?

Consider the idea that you are making a movie and that your inner narrative is the screenplay on which it is based. Who would be interested in seeing this movie and what actor would you want to play you?

EXERCISE:

Write a short story based about a new and more interesting you. How could this exercise add a bit more excitement and engagement to the life you are actually leading?

Make a mistake? Release the guilt, remember the lesson

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“Make a mistake? Release the guilt, remember the lesson.”

—James Clear, author of Atomic Habits

Image from Unsplash by Francisco De Legarreta C.

Today’s quote contains three separate nuggets of coaching:

  1. It encourages us to experiment and try new things.
  2. It tells us to release the guilt or shame many of us experience when we fail or come up short of what we intend.
  3. It urges us to be mindful of these events so that we capture the knowledge and wisdom gained from these experiences.

EXERCISE:

How frequently do you stretch yourself to try new things that may or may not work?

How caring and compassionate are you with yourself when you fail or make mistakes?

How do you capture and keep the lessons learned to limit or prevent yourself from making similar mistakes in the future?

Notice nothingness. Discover the peace and power in the presence of absence.

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Notice nothingness. Discover the peace and power in the presence of absence.

—Calm App Reflection

Image from Unsplash by Noah Silliman

Have you ever spent time in an isolation chamber? Not me!

I think that would be too much nothing. What about the use of room darkening shades and a set of noise cancellation headphones?

We tend to live in a noisy, lights-on world where the presence of absence is absent.

How and where do you escape the barrage of stimuli that can drain your power and disturb the peace?

EXERCISE:

Where in your world is it possible to turn down the volume and turn off the lights?

Try a few experiments this week and discover the peace and power in their absence.

Try playing with your other senses and see where your mind wanders in this open field of awareness.

The way you look at things is the most powerful force shaping your life

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“The way you look at things is the most powerful force shaping your life.”

—John O’ Donohue, late Irish poet, author, Hegelian philosopher

Image from Unsplash by Bradley Pisney

Today’s quote is an excellent reminder to develop and cultivate our self-awareness and mindfulness abilities.

When we choose to adopt constructive perspectives and attitudes, we can harness our powers of perception to create a more fulfilling and meaningful life.

If and when we look at things from a negative or closed mindset, we limit our abilities to navigate life’s challenges and complexities.

EXERCISE:

How can and will you exercise and develop your powers of perception to shape your life and your world for the better?

See the humanity in others. We are all wrestling with our own stuff

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See the humanity in others. We are all wrestling with our own stuff that is making life messy and difficult.

—Calm App Reflection

Image from Unsplash by Bud Helisson

To a certain degree we are all narcissists. We can’t help but look through the lenses of our own trials and challenges each day. Doing this can often create a separation between ourselves and others in our communities. We can come to think that the burdens we carry are somehow unique to us and are of far greater magnitude.

I recently watched the National Geographic series 9/11 One Day in America. and got a big wake up call at how our troubles pale in comparison. I’ve also realized in the past few years since Covid the wrestling done by most people is far more than I ever imagined.

EXERCISE:

To what degree do you take the time to fully embrace the humanity in others? Take a few extra moments today to be interested rather than interesting and see what you discover.

A man has to live with himself, and he should see to it that he always has good company

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“A man has to live with himself, and he should see to it that he always has good company.”

—Charles Evans Hughes, 11th Chief Justice of the United States

 

Image from Unsplash by Caspian Dahlström

Imagine spending a month or more completely alone, with no one to talk with.

The Netflix series “Alone” places ten individuals with expert survival skills in remote locations. Their goal is to live off the land and outlast the other nine participants, whom they never meet.

In the early stages of this adventure everyone is stoked, positive about the opportunity to challenge themselves, become the last one standing, and receive a $500,000 prize for their effort.

Building shelters, sourcing food and water, and braving the elements keeps everyone pretty occupied, especially during the daylight hours. At night their thoughts often go to a darker side of the experience, given their complete isolation.

With their two video cameras and their efforts at documentary filmmaking, we see their wild journeys that include the physical and mental aspects of starvation and loneliness.

EXERCISE:

Describe the company you keep in your personal and professional worlds.

How much alone time do you experience?

How successful are you at befriending yourself during periods of isolation and loneliness?

Please reply to this post with your thoughts and feelings.

Don’t worry if you’re making waves just by being yourself.

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“Don’t worry if you’re making waves just by being yourself. The moon does it all the time.”

—Scott Stabile, Inspirational self-help writer and speaker

Image from Unsplash by San Sahil

Did you know that the moon only shows us one of its sides? Not until we sent spacecraft and men to orbit our neighbor did we see its other side.

Perhaps this is wise council for each of us as well. Being our true selves and showing the world who we are with all our impact craters may not be such a bad thing.

The moon has been tugging on us for billions of years. We were so fascinated by its pull we decided to visit it in the 60’s and early 70’s, and plan to return in the coming years.

EXERCISE:

How can living true to your nature—even if it makes a few waves—attract the people and opportunities you most desire?

“If you don’t become the ocean, you’ll be seasick every day.”

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“If you don’t become the ocean, you’ll be seasick every day.”

—Leonard Cohen, late Canadian singer-songwriter, poet, novelist

image from Unsplash by Anastasia Taioglou

How have you been feeling lately? To what degree are you experiencing a sense of well-being or discord with the world around you?

We recently had our piano tuned after moving about six months ago. They say it takes about this long for a piano to adjust to its new home so that it can be tuned in harmony with its surroundings.

This past year we’ve had our share of seasickness with numerous ups and downs. Slowly, we are regaining our sea legs and have become more at ease within the ocean of our new communities.

EXERCISE:

How can you move from some of the lower decks of your life to the bridge of your ship to settle your stomach and view the horizon of each new day?