Self reflection.
I’ve been spending a lot of time studying and thinking about my WHY. Not in a cheesy, meditative way (for those rolling your eyes and checking out) but rather trying to understand my reason for doing and being who I am. Knowledge is power. If I understand exactly why I am doing what I am doing- I will be better at doing it.
Take an Apple Watch for example. I can wear it and receive text and email notifications and read the time. Or I can learn about the technologies available that can improve my sleep, fitness, mindset, communication, etc. It’s my choice. So I can spend a lot fo money for something I already carry around in my pocket, or I can take advantage of these benefits. Understanding the device better has the potential to be very helpful.
Based on this learning, I have come to understand what has been so obvious the whole time (and yet not so simple & obvious if you had asked me a few weeks ago). My WHY is helping people increase their own self awareness and ability to self reflect.
For me, this means, by the end of our conversations, training or meetings, my objective is for everyone to leave understanding themselves a little more. No matter what else is achieved during that time, if they leave with a greater awareness- I have succeeded.
There are a plethora of articles and videos all about this advantages and disadvantages of self relfection and increasing self awareness. There are arguments on both sides. Rather than go through and summarize them from my own perspective, here are a few that may be of interest to you:
https://thomas-oppong.medium.com/self-wisdom-knowing-yourself-is-hard-but-key-to-a-better-life-4f31c92dcd21
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/what-self-awareness-why-does-matter-ray-williams/
https://ideas.ted.com/the-right-way-to-be-introspective-yes-theres-a-wrong-way/
https://positivepsychology.com/introspection-self-reflection/