Part I: The Biggest Flex is Self-Awareness
An exploration of self-realization...
From my perspective as a social media user, I've noticed that some individuals feel compelled to communicate how unbothered they are or highlight (or flex) their growing financial prosperity and possessions for external validation from strangers.
In case you’re not hip to internet slang, the term “ flex” is used to boast about one’s possessions, achievements, or skills. While I think it’s great to celebrate yourself, I’ve noticed that sometimes the wrong things are being celebrated. For example, how many social media followers gained in a short period of time, financial or possession status.
I think the biggest flex should be self-awareness. Self-awareness is understanding your thoughts, emotions, and actions. It is the ability to observe and reflect on our inner workings, leading to personal growth and a deeper connection with the world around us.
Self-awareness should be the biggest flex because it’s rare and varies amongst individuals. Some factors that contribute to a lack of self-awareness include:
Lack of Introspection: Many people lead busy lives, and the constant demands of daily life can leave little time for introspection. Without intentional reflection, individuals may not have the opportunity to delve into their own thoughts and emotions.
Cultural Influences: Some cultures may place less emphasis on self-reflection or discourage individuals from exploring their feelings and motivations. Cultural norms and expectations can shape how individuals perceive and express self-awareness.
Fear of Vulnerability: True self-awareness often involves acknowledging vulnerabilities and imperfections. Many individuals may fear being vulnerable or feel uncomfortable confronting aspects of themselves that they perceive as weaknesses.
Social Conditioning: Society often rewards external achievements and conformity. This emphasis on external validation can lead individuals to focus more on meeting societal expectations than on understanding their own values and desires.
Lack of Emotional Intelligence Education: Emotional intelligence, a key component of self-awareness, is not always explicitly taught or emphasized in educational systems. Individuals may struggle to develop emotional self-awareness without the necessary tools and knowledge.
Unconscious Patterns: Certain behaviors and thought patterns may be deeply ingrained and operate at a subconscious level. Without consciously exploring these patterns, individuals may remain unaware of their impact on their lives.
Distractions and Information Overload: In today's fast-paced world, individuals are often bombarded with information and distractions. This constant influx can make it challenging for people to carve out the time and mental space needed for self-reflection.
About Levels of Conciousness: Self-awareness enables individuals to recognize and understand their thoughts, emotions, and identity. While consciousness involves a broad awareness of the external and internal world, self-awareness adds an introspective dimension.
The development of self-awareness is often linked to the deepening of consciousness, creating a synergistic connection. As consciousness advances to higher levels, the capacity for self-awareness expands, enriching the cognitive experience and shaping our understanding of ourselves and the world.
Developed by David Hawkins, M.D., Ph.D., the Levels of Consciousness chart serves as a conceptual framework. This chart assesses diverse psychological and mental states, aligning them with different levels of consciousness ranging from 20 to 1000.
I love using this chart as a reference point to check in with myself.
Two Main Components of Self-Awareness
To initiate the exploration of your self-awareness, it's crucial to recognize the two categories of self-awareness:
Internal Self-awareness: This aspect involves understanding one's own emotions, recognizing how those emotions influence behavior, and being aware of one's strengths and weaknesses. Internal self-awareness is about having a deep insight into one's thoughts and feelings.
External Self-awareness: This component involves understanding how one is perceived by others. It includes being aware of the impact of one's actions and behaviors on the people and environment around them. External self-awareness is crucial for building healthy relationships and effective communication.
Key Types of Self-Awareness
Emotional Self-awareness: This involves recognizing and understanding one's own emotions. It includes the ability to identify different emotions, understand their origins, and manage them effectively. Emotional self-awareness is a crucial aspect of emotional intelligence.
Social Self-awareness: This type involves understanding how one is perceived by others. It includes being aware of the impact of one's behavior on others, recognizing social cues, and adapting communication styles based on the social context.
Cognitive Self-awareness: Cognitive self-awareness refers to an individual's awareness of their own thought processes, cognitive biases, and mental habits. It involves understanding how one thinks, makes decisions, and processes information.
Physical Self-awareness: This dimension relates to being aware of one's own body, physical sensations, and overall well-being. It includes recognizing bodily sensations, understanding physical limits, and being attuned to one's health.
Values-based Self-awareness: Understanding one's core values and beliefs is essential for aligning actions with personal principles. This type of self-awareness involves reflecting on and clarifying one's values to guide decision-making and behavior.
Spiritual Self-awareness: For some individuals, spiritual self-awareness involves understanding and connecting with a higher purpose or meaning in life. It may include exploring questions, values, and beliefs related to spirituality or a greater sense of purpose.
Behavioral Self-awareness: This dimension involves being conscious of one's actions and behaviors. It includes recognizing behavioral patterns, habits, and tendencies. Behavioral self-awareness is crucial for personal development and positive change.
Narrative Self-awareness: Understanding one's life story, experiences, and how they contribute to personal identity falls under narrative self-awareness. This involves reflecting on life events, significant moments, and the impact they have had on shaping one's identity.
Aesthetic Self-awareness: This type involves an awareness of one's preferences and aesthetics in terms of art, beauty, and personal style. It includes an understanding of what resonates with an individual on a sensory and aesthetic level.
Increasing Self-Awareness
Increasing self-awareness is a transformative journey that involves various practices. Practices that may help you increase self-awareness include (this is not an all-inclusive list):
Meditation
Journaling
Self-reflection
Seeking feedback from others you trust
Emotional awareness exercises
Clarifying your core values
Therapy or some form of counseling
Mindful listening
Body scan exercises to learn bodily sensations
Personality assessment
Creative expression
Self-check-ins
The first step in the journey to self-awareness is noticing the lack of self-awareness you may have. As you gain more self-awareness, this awareness will permeate other relationships in your life and improve your quality of life.
Soulful Inquiries | Journal Prompts:
Reflect on your inner dialogue. How do you speak to yourself during challenging times, and how can you cultivate a more positive and supportive self-talk?
Reflect on a recent situation where you experienced strong emotions. What were those emotions, and how did you handle them?
Describe a challenging moment in your life. How did you grow from that experience, and what did you learn about yourself?
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Thank you for this thought-provoking piece (as always), Key. As you said, in a world where followers and social media bits are forces from which many people thrive, it is necessary to stop and look at ourselves...self consider...