One of the easiest places to start is with your words. Think about a phrase or word you’ve said recently—perhaps something you’ve repeated on autopilot. Is it empowering, or does it leave you feeling stuck? Words like “I can’t,” “I’m not good enough,” or “I’ll never be able to…” can be subtle roadblocks that limit your growth. Pay attention to the phrases you use, because what we speak becomes part of our reality.
Self-awareness isn’t just about what we say but also how we think. Turn on your “internal rewind button” and pause to listen to your thoughts. What are you focusing on? Your to-do list? A problem at work? The argument you had this morning? Thoughts often swirl around like a whirlwind, distracting us from the present moment. By practicing self-awareness, you can slow down that internal noise and make more intentional choices.
Just as you would fine-tune a car radio to catch the perfect station, you can also fine-tune your self-awareness. It’s a daily practice, but you can start right now. Many of these exercises can be done while driving, giving you a chance to practice while you go about your day. For instance, the next time you’re stopped at a red light, take a moment to look at the license plates around you. See if any sequences or letters spark something meaningful for you. For example, “A5G 788”—the “788” could represent your child’s birth year or month. Another could read WAKEUP. It’s a small practice that can bring your mind back to the present moment and stop you from getting lost in your to-do list, your past memories, or scrolling through social media.
In our fast-paced world, distractions are everywhere. Phones are designed to pull us away from the present, making it easy to get lost in a scrolling spiral. But when we’re scrolling or texting, we’re not fully aware of our surroundings. We might even miss a red light or forget where we’re going. It’s not just about safety; being distracted robs us of self-awareness.
Self-awareness is vital on personal, global, and even universal levels. When we tune into ourselves, we begin to recognize patterns in our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. We start to discern the truth from the lies we tell ourselves, and we remember things others might overlook. Have you ever noticed a man walking on your usual route every day? Maybe he’s there, but you haven’t seen him until now. That’s because self-awareness opens your eyes to the world around you and within you.
On a larger scale, being aware of our internal state helps us recognize external patterns too—whether it’s a toxic relationship, a negative thought cycle, or societal patterns that we can address. When we grow in awareness, we start to recognize opportunities for growth and positive change, both for ourselves and the world.
By turning up your self-awareness like a radio dial, you stop yourself from mindlessly drifting through the day. You connect more deeply with your own thoughts, your environment, and even the universe around you. It’s a simple practice that yields profound results: recognizing patterns, seizing opportunities, and living a life that’s in tune with who you truly are. Start with small moments—like the license plates you see every day, the time on the clock, the flavor of a meal—and gradually grow your ability to be fully present. Self-awareness is the first step in becoming the best version of yourself, in your world and beyond.
Siobhan Shaw is a personal growth writer and podcaster as well as being the Co-founder of GrowingtoGive.org
Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.
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