Is Awareness Over Rated? #2 Choice
Is Awareness Over Rated?
- A 7 Benefit Series; #2: Choice -
This is part of a 7 benefit series in the exploration of gains to be had through the development of higher awareness and consciousness.
Benefit #2: Gain new options in changing or nurturing specific traits.
In Benefit #1, we talked about building insight regarding our personality through observation and interaction with other. As these mental notes build onto themselves, we gain increasing awareness of what makes us do as we do, which brings us to Benefit #2: Choice and Responsibility.
Choice is a beautiful word, isn’t it?
Its twin is, off course, responsibility, a term not always as appreciated. Some would cry out they want choice for themselves, but when the time comes, point fingers elsewhere rather than accept the responsibility that comes with it. Unfortunately, these two go hand in hand and one cannot be without the other, and are therefore considered here as one item.
Shall we put all this knowledge to good use?
Once we get to better understand what makes us do as we do, we can consciously choose new options. If a pattern emerges through recurring situations, then in becoming conscious of that pattern, we can recognize it as it is happening, or even better, catch it before it happens, and work to gradually improve and change the behavior.
Knowing our trigger points can also go a long way towards behavior modification. For example, if I am aware and recognize that I tend to have junk food cravings at a particular time of day, I can anticipate that time and be prepared with a better option. Or if I know that certain friends have a negative influence on me, then I can choose to spend less time with them and explore new avenues with groups that display the behaviors / results that I wish to attain.
Off course, we all possess admirable qualities that we might choose to exercise more often. Think of a situation where you did something or said something that was really thoughtful and supportive when a friend needed it. Maybe there are small gestures and/or random acts of kindness that you do on a regular basis that really shows a caring aspect of you. Recognize these and give yourself credit. It’s not bragging. It’s simply acknowledging the positive facets of who you are.
Let’s re-cap:
- Knowledge and awareness give us options.
- Options give us choices.
- Choices come with responsibility.
And all three points combined empower us to change and/or nurture various aspect of our personality for the better.
We can choose to become and be the person we wish to be.
This takes time off course. We cannot expect to become an entirely new person overnight, though incremental changes implemented on a persistent basis will go a long way.
Now that’s power!
Next, Benefit #3: Understanding
