A lack of self-awareness is one of the most significant barriers to maximizing your success and happiness. You are more aware of your friends' flaws than they are of their own. It's human nature to have a distorted view of oneself.

We'd rather bury our heads in the sand and remain oblivious to our flaws. We'd rather believe that we're unlucky than take the wrong approach.

This is a huge challenge because how can you grow and evolve optimally if you can't see yourself and your behaviours accurately?

You'll be more likely to have a successful and rewarding life if you're brave enough to develop a keen sense of self-awareness.

To learn more about yourself, try the following techniques:

1. Make a list of your values.

Spending an hour identifying and prioritizing your values will reveal a lot about yourself. If you take the time to do this exercise, you're bound to find a few surprises. If you are stuck with format or answers then please get in touch with me, I have an excellent tool from the Jay Shetty Certification School for this exact purpose.

2. Make a list of your objectives.

Determining what you want to have, do, and experience in your life is also very revealing. Most of us are too preoccupied with surviving from one day to the next to think about our long-term goals. Make time to consider the type of life you want to lead, and you will become more self-aware.

3. Maintain a journal.

Journaling is the subject of entire books. Read one of them and create your own journaling routine. Writing differs from the constant chatter that occurs between your ears throughout the day. Self-awareness is as close as a notebook and a pen.

4. Discuss your feelings with a close friend.

Your friends and family are more familiar with you than you are with yourself. They can clearly see your flaws and strengths. Ask them to tell you about themselves if you're feeling brave.

5. Meditate.

Mediate if you want to understand your mind. What you discover will astound you. Meditation is beneficial to your physical, emotional, and mental health, as well as your self-awareness. Thirty minutes a day will tell you a lot about yourself.

6. Make use of your imagination.

Consider yourself a fly on the wall and observe how you interact with others. Remember both happy and stressful events.

• What impression do you believe your coworkers, friends, family, neighbours, and others have of you?

• How do you present yourself?

• What do you believe a stranger in the store thinks of you?

A highly recommended tool that I use with my clients is the 'Johari Window'. Reach out to me if you would like to learn more about it.

7. Take personality assessments.

Many personality and aptitude tests are available online, many of which are free (like this one here: https://www.16personalities.com/). Take these tests to find out what they say about you. Think about anything that seems incorrect before dismissing it. Then, ask a close friend if they agree with the assessment.

8. Recognize the characteristics in others that irritate you.

• What do you find annoying about others?

• What does this tell us about you?

Try to be objective and see if you share any of these characteristics. People who exhibit characteristics that we dislike in ourselves frequently trigger us.

• What is your level of self-awareness?

• Do you know how other people perceive you?

• Do you recognize your flaws?

• What are your strongest points?

• What kind of environment do you thrive in?

• What are your core beliefs? What are your objectives?

• What role did you play in the failure of your previous relationships?

If you can't answer these questions quickly and easily, increasing your self-awareness through life coaching will help tremendously. Until you fully comprehend yourself, your life will appear to be dictated by forces beyond your control.

Gain self-awareness, hire a life coach and reclaim control of your life today!