Improve our tool of awareness – Part 1

By popular demand, I’m embarking on a blog series to enhance your awareness levels! Welcome to the first installment, where we delve into the enchanting realm of boosting your radar! In our book, ‘Become the Boss of You,’ we’ve divided our strategies into two teams: intellectual and action, a real roadmap to success. This allows you to flex your planning muscles and guide your journey.

Journaling is also an important technique we advocate for the cognitive aspect, which we will cover in part 2 of this blog series.

Our goal today is to help you find practical ways to improve your awareness, boost your abilities, and become a master of mind and body. We want to refine observational skills. Learn how to become a sort of ‘environment whisperer’ by being more aware of your surroundings and more perceptive.

• In our book “Become the Boss of You,” we discussed coaching on developing mental tools like personal awareness and clarifying your aspirations.
• Ready for the revelation? Our behaviors and mindsets profoundly impact almost every aspect of our lives, and the best part is that we have the power to shape them.
• Indeed, we can all pay attention; however, as our book suggests, “Attention will reward us in proportion to the attention we give.”
• Let’s embark on a journey to sharpen our awareness through an invigorating activity that stimulates improved awareness and captivates our senses.

Engaging your five Senses –

Let’s begin with a little example – think about our trusty five senses. These senses are like our personal superhero squad, always on guard! Picture this: I’m cruising to grab some garden goodies, my mind wandering off to who-knows-where, causing me to space out at the plant store. Lost in my world, I might miss all the nifty stuff around me. Fast forward 15 minutes, and I’m back in my car, feeling accomplished with my compost and mulch haul, but wait – what did I miss because of my daydream?

Now, let’s do this gain. First, I take a moment to center myself by focusing on my breath. Then, I engage all my senses during this shopping experience. As I leave the car, I notice a slight soreness in my left hip from gardening the day before. With each step, I feel the gravel beneath my feet and my body adjusting to prevent stumbling. Stones crunching under my shoes and birds chirping near the trees catch my attention. The beautiful blue sky assures me that rain is unlikely without consulting a weather app.

Pushing a cart, I enter the nursery’s covered area. The cart glides smoothly, almost effortlessly, since it’s empty. A faint rattle reveals a slightly wobbly wheel that I wouldn’t have noticed if not for focusing on my senses. I observe the cool touch of the cart’s handle, cooler than the surrounding air, guiding it with my hands. The scents of various flowers fill the air, each distinct in its perfume. Moving closer, I differentiate between the geraniums and pansies’ fragrances. Exploring the herbs section, I savor the unique basil, rosemary, lavender, and sage scents.

I hear the workers chatting while they tend the plants. Moving towards the bags of compost, I contemplate which one to purchase. Deliberately, I choose a bag, feeling its weight and sensing a slight tightening in my torso. I notice the contraction in my arms and instinctively bend my knees to lift the bag correctly. The compost smells distinct. Not nearly as pleasant as the flowers.

I load my cart, noticing the increased weight, and my muscles react differently than when the cart is empty. I feel the added effort to push and maneuver the cart now. Stepping out of the nursery, I feel a refreshing breeze, making the temperature outside seem a few degrees cooler.

Through conscious observation, we enhanced our awareness of the experience. The after-effects may not be immediate, but this practice will heighten our awareness. We continue to notice details that we would have missed. This multisensory approach enriches our awareness.

Contrasting the two scenarios of picking up supplies demonstrates the impact of heightened awareness. By consciously engaging our senses, we uncover unconscious processes that can be improved through mindful attention. Enhancing physical senses and action awareness boosts overall awareness, creating a beneficial feedback loop.

Three practical ways to start —

Raising your awareness is like a superpower switch. It helps banish negative thoughts and paves the way for a sunnier life. It’s focusing and mastering the art of spotting opportunities. This skill can boost your health, wealth, and joy. We do this by sharpening your time management skills, tracking results with goals, and sprinkling the magic of attitude on the road to your dreams.

Everyone possesses awareness, with varying levels of proficiency in observation. To sharpen awareness, consider the following points:

• Evaluating the results obtained in different aspects of life can indicate improvements in awareness in those areas.
• Structuring time efficiently can enhance time management skills, offering significant benefits due to time’s fundamental role in life.
• Paying attention to attitudes can also refine awareness. Actions and attitudes serve as tools to aid personal growth, complementing progress in time management and result assessment.

Goals and priorities —

Setting ourselves up for success and leveraging our past accomplishments is key. Winning not only brings joy but boosts our self-esteem. Defining clear, specific goals increases our likelihood of achievement. This showcases our abilities and enhances our self-awareness. Accomplishing a goal elevates our self-awareness in that area of life.

Break down your goals into manageable parts that allow victories and, thus, celebrations. This offers reassurance.

Setting deadlines is beneficial but should not induce stress. Adjusting deadlines is acceptable as long as the goal remains meaningful. In the game of life, we want to sprinkle new goals with self-love and growth. Watch for stress monsters lurking around, ready to mess with your happiness.

Getting better at managing our time –

Reviewing daily to-do lists enhances awareness, aids planning, and brings intentions to life. It serves as a roadmap, offering valuable insights and surprises. Transforming list-making into a habit, prioritizing tasks, and celebrating completions boost productivity. Allocate time for “A” priorities early, aligning with peak productivity hours and adjusting time-blocking to suit personal rhythms. Reflecting on productivity and areas of avoidance leads to self-improvement. Establishing prioritization as a habit and adjusting mindsets help achieve goals and manage time.

To-do lists are like our trusty sidekicks, giving us a sneak peek into our daily wins and spots for upgrades. Staying in the loop is key for stirring up some change. Pat yourself on the back for ticking off tasks – it’s a one-way ticket to productivity paradise, setting you up for a winning streak. Tackling top tasks first thing unlocks the day’s potential and bows to the morning productivity queen. Tweaking mindsets and staying mindful are secret weapons for nailing down priorities and sticking to them like glue.

Attitudes —

Creating habits with a sunny disposition is like giving your future self a high-five! Habits are the secret sauce to unlocking long-term goals, and it all starts with a sparky mindset.

To cultivate a favorable attitude, reflect on positive habits aligned with the desired lifestyle. Set specific goals to stimulate creativity and enhance attitudes toward aspirations. Envision your goal and watch how your attitude helps you achieve it.

Build a mental picture of success in advance to keep those motivation fires burning. Fill your mind with positivity and see how it molds your attitude. Be your cheerleader, showering yourself with love and backing. As our book says, be a good boss to you.

Gratitude –

Gratitude is like a superpower potion that turbocharges your skills. Embrace it to level up your time management game. Give props to the little things and the big stuff in life. You’ll draw in even more positivity when you’re grateful for the good vibes. Celebrate each tiny victory, like nailing your schedule, and watch as more awesome changes roll in effortlessly. It’s ok to throw a party for small wins!

Remember, staying aware helps uncover limiting beliefs and acknowledges achievements. Establishing a new routine can make reverting to old habits easy, so monitoring progress, celebrating small wins, and practicing gratitude can prevent regression.

Finding what you want –

Part two of this blog delves into the benefits of journaling thoughts, uncovering personal desires, self-appreciation, and nighttime reflections. It highlights the power of awareness in boosting self-knowledge and steering life with purpose.

Taking the reins also tunes you into your quirks and habits. Understanding how your actions shape your image and decoding the quirks of those around you can level up teamwork. Embracing change, like our book wisely suggests, amps up your game in battling those sneaky negative thoughts and actions that try to crash your party.

 

Peace, Ishall Dogood

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Sources:

1. Psychology Today: on Goal Setting
2. PositivePsychology.com: on Positive Self-Talk