JUNE 25, 2020
How often are you aware of what you are doing in life? Is it occasionally, all of the time or NEVER? I hope you can take a few moments to really dig into this important principle in your life because it will either lift you up to success or bring you down with dismal failures. It may be the difference between just being average or being great at something. Self-awareness hopefully turns into Self-Control which helps guide a person through life. In preparation for this week’s remarks, I wrote down a list (Love those lists) of things that have to do with the SELF. Of course, we are ALL interested in ourselves. Often more than others and to our detriment. Reflect on this list and rate yourself. Then ask a friend, a spouse, or a co-worker to rate you as to how THEY see you. We have talked about not worrying about what other people think of you because that is totally out of your control. But with the help of others, try this and see if you can “Improve” on being a little more humble and kind to others (and yourself). Here are your SELF words to reflect on:
Self-Absorbed, Self-Delusional (always blaming others), Selfish, Selfless, Self-motivated, Self-destructive or self-sabotage, self-critical, self-anointed, self-interest, self-important, self-talk, self-reflection, self-love, self-respect, self-compassion, self-worth, self-understanding, self-control, self-mastery, self-actualization. I could go on and on but you get the picture. Some of these are destructive and some can be motivating. Let’s call them the GOOD self and the Bad Self. Which are you in this list?
We all strive and crave to be appreciated and understood. Each one of us wants and desires to be seen as important. But it is hard to connect with someone who is SO in love with themselves that they don’t have time or desire to be around others. This will certainly make you a VERY lonely person. Many are afraid their masks will fall off and they will be found out as to WHO they really are inside. John Maxwell tells us to be more intentional about getting what we want in regards to the SELF. Hopefully you are working on the “Good” self and not the “Bad” Self. The selfless self vs. the selfish self. If you feel you have gone too far in one of these “selfies” then write down what you might do better to improve.
We are all in pursuit of “Life, Liberty, & Happiness.” While you are in that pursuit, does it make you happier if you win all of the time and at all costs or if you make more money or have more THINGS than someone else? I know many people that compare themselves to others because they are so insecure in their own skin that they just have to show others that they are smart enough or skilled enough to win at everything they do. This is not a bad philosophy if you are only looking out for yourself or are playing an individual sport. However, MOST of us play on teams and it is up to us to share with and develop others. That is where you will find out who you are and true happiness. Doing something for others or seeing others succeed is very rewarding to the soul.
If you study Maslow, once you get past the basic needs, self-actualization is at the top of his list. Not many get there but it is a goal worthy of your effort. Knowing WHO you are and WHO you are becoming is what we all should strive for in life. If you have any faith, that is what God asks of you. If you have a family, that is what they require of you. And, if you are part of a team, that is where great leaders are made. No one wants to work for a Know-it-all. No one wants to work for a dictator or someone who thinks more highly of him/herself than anyone else. That will be destructive to all parties in so many ways.
Look out for yourself but make it about others. It’s not about you anyway.
Are you Self-Aware?
Elevator Guy