"Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength; mastering yourself is true power." - Tao Te Ching
So, if mastering ourselves is true power, it must really matter to be self-aware, self-actualizing and fully conscious of our actions, (as they run very much like a cause to come back to us as an effect.)
Do you know what is true for you when it comes to self-knowledge, values, relationships, or what really makes you happy?
Evidence that you are critically self-aware:
• Do you make the issue or event the thing that matters or is it what you do with it to effect a better outcome that really matters?
• Are you stuck in the loop of: when X happens, then Y is the result because this has been your experience and you have judged it be so, or do you entertain the possibility that X can produce a different result?
• When something or someone makes you angry, are you aware that it's not the other thing or person. The problem lies with you.
• Do you always judge an experience as good or bad or can you hold every new experience for just what it is -- a new experience.
• How aware are you of your belief system? Your beliefs determine most everything in your life. What do you believe? That nothing comes easy in life or, it doesn't have to be a struggle?
Can you honestly be a great manager, leader, consultant, or team player without knowing what makes you tick, motivates you, or makes you angry? Do you understand your hot button issues and diffuse them before reacting? Do you know how your judgments and assumptions about others are formed? We all have blind spots -- behaviors we are not aware of. Our perception is shaded by personal filters and limited thinking patterns. By looking through the four windows of awareness, you can hone your ability to increase self-knowledge and manage workplace relationships successfully.
To view the four windows of awareness model, click on http://www.knowmegame.com/johari_window.html or go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johari_window
About this Author
Flo Mauri, Career and Expansion Coach, has been helping new managers and emerging leaders to master their situations and reach their desired outcomes since 2003. Flo also works with multicultural business women to help them achieve executive proficiencies. Flo is known as a Relationship Building Architect and is passionate about building friction-free relationships for career success.
Reach Flo:
http://www.thinkingwellconsulting.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Flo_Mauri
