Knowing What you Don’t Know about Yourself
Have you ever stopped to think about why you do the things you do? Too often we slip into the habit of operating on autopilot, moving through our routines and daily tasks without really questioning them. We think we know ourselves, but in reality, we often have no idea why we’re making certain choices or following certain habits.
One of the biggest reasons we can feel stuck or unfulfilled is because we haven’t taken the time to check in with ourselves and reflect on whether our actions are aligned with who we truly are. If you're not regularly assessing where you are, who you are, and what you’re doing, you could be operating on outdated beliefs and narratives that no longer holds true.
It’s time to change that. Let’s dig into how you can unlock your full potential by mastering self-awareness.
Start With Self-Inventory
One of the most important practices you can develop is regularly taking inventory of your life. This means stopping to ask yourself key questions like: What am I doing, and why am I doing it? It sounds simple, but it’s powerful. Most of us skip this deliberate exercise because it takes time, and we assume we just know these things inherently. Usually, we don’t.
When was the last time you really checked in with yourself about your daily routines, your goals, or the habits that drive your day-to-day? Make the time to be super curious about yourself.
Curiosity is the foundation of self-awareness. Start by observing your actions, inactions, and reactions. Then, ask why you’re doing those things. You may find that some of your habits are incredibly supportive, helping you get closer to your goals. In contrast, you might also discover that some of the things you’ve been doing are actually working against you.
Self-inventory isn’t a one-time task. This is something to do regularly - daily, weekly, or whenever you feel like you need a reset. It’s about staying in tune with who you are and what truly matters to you, rather than going through the motions out of habit or old assumptions.
Understand Your Triggers
Another key part of mastering self-awareness is understanding your emotional triggers. Triggers can be both positive and negative, and it’s important to identify both. Maybe you’ve experienced moments where something lights you up and gives you energy, or maybe there are situations that leave you feeling drained or frustrated.
By identifying what triggers those responses, you can begin to manage your environment, behaviors, and mindset more effectively. If something you see on social media sparks feelings of comparison or frustration, ask yourself why. Is it jealousy? Fear? An unmet desire? Once you’ve identified the root cause, you can address it in a way that helps you move forward constructively.
The same goes for positive triggers. When something lights you up or gives you the warm fuzzies, take note of that too. Maybe it’s a new idea, a goal you’ve been meaning to pursue, or even just a piece of content that makes you feel inspired. Lean into those things that bring you energy and motivation - they’re clues to what fully fuels you.
Redefine Yourself
Here’s a solid truth that might take some time to sink in: You have permission to not be the person that you think you are.
So often, we hold ourselves to identities or narratives that are simply no longer valid. We think we need to stay consistent with the person we were in the past - whether it’s five years ago or even just last week. But the reality is, you are allowed to change. You are allowed to redefine who you are, based on who you are right now and who you want to become.
This process starts with letting go of old stories you’ve been telling yourself. Maybe you’ve been holding onto beliefs about your abilities or limitations that no longer fit. Maybe the goals you set for yourself years ago don’t actually align with who you are today or who you want to become tomorrow. By reassessing these narratives and redefining yourself, you open up a world of possibilities.
And remember, growth isn’t always comfortable. Redefining yourself might mean stepping out of your comfort zone, letting go of things that no longer fit, or confronting fears you’ve been avoiding. But it’s a necessary step if you want to experience days and accomplishments that feel impactful and fulfilling.
Build a Daily Practice of Self-Reflection
To stay on top of these changes, it’s essential to develop a daily practice of self-reflection. By carving out time each day to reflect on your actions, reactions, and feelings, you can build a deeper sense of awareness. This can be as simple as taking five minutes at the end of each day to ask yourself: What went well today? What didn’t? Why did I react the way I did?
Writing these reflections down can give you even more clarity. When you see your thoughts and patterns on paper, it becomes easier to connect the dots between your actions and your emotions. This practice will help you become more intentional about your choices and more aware of the habits you want to keep - or not.
Make self-reflection a daily practice because the more consistently you do it, the easier it becomes to stay on track and out of the territory of overwhelm, survival and burnout. This isn’t about perfection; it’s about progress.
Take Aligned Action
Once you’ve done the work of building self-awareness, the next step is taking aligned action. This means that your actions, goals, and decisions are all in harmony with who you want to be and what you want to experience in life.
It’s easy to fall into the trap of making decisions based on who you think you should be, or based on what other people expect from you. However, once you’ve done the work to understand yourself - your triggers, your goals, your motivations - you’ll find it much easier to make better decisions, quicker and with greater confidence.
When your actions are aligned with your fully “hell yeah!” self, you’ll feel confident, more capable, and more at peace with the direction you’re going. You’ll waste less time second-guessing yourself, and more time moving forward.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Let’s actually do something now, shall we?! What’s one thing you’re doing on autopilot that you’d like to change? How will you redefine yourself moving forward? Take a moment to reflect, and then commit to taking that first step toward greater self-awareness and deliberate action.
