The Power of Self Awareness … 3 Exercises to Help Uncover Your Blind-spots.
When it comes to your goals, life is likely to throw curve-balls your way. But it’s not just the outside world that may disrupt you: you may also hold yourself back without knowing it.
Do you launch an attack every time you feel offended? Are you defensive of your actions? Do you make emotional decisions that you regret almost immediately? Do you regularly self-sabotage and let self-criticism weigh you down?
At times you don’t see it, but you are the toxic person you have been resolving to get rid of every new year.
We all have blind spots — those areas for improvement and growth. As painful as it can be to admit we’re doing things we never wanted to do and saying things we never wanted to say, it is this acknowledgment that enables us to take the first step toward change. Be gentle with yourself. Be real with yourself. Take baby steps.”
― Rhonda Louise Robbins
The truth about ourselves is often the hardest thing to face. We all have blind-spots, the things about ourselves we can’t see but are obvious to everyone else around us.
If we want to grow and get out of the circle of self-defeat and inner struggle, we must be willing to face our blind spots.
Here are a few exercises you can practice to discover your blind-spots and launch yourself on a path to success.
1. Look for feedback
“Appearance blinds, whereas words reveal.” — Oscar Wilde
Usually, the first step to uncovering our blind-spots is by simply listening to those around us.
The people who care about you may not tell you your blind spots fearing to offend/hurt you. Open up and ask their feedback and get enlightened.”
― Assegid Habtewold,
For this exercise to work, you have to resist the urge to get defensive. Ask about 10 people, 4 friends, 3 family members, and 3 co-workers to write down something about you.
When do they enjoy your company? When you are at your best, what do you do? How do you behave? Also, what you do when you’re not at your best? How do you react in bad situations? What do they notice? How would they describe your character? Compare those answers and look out for recurring themes.
Compare those answers to your own assessment of yourself. What does that tell you about yourself?
Remember not to take offense but to use it as an opportunity for growth and self-reflection.
2. Look at the downside of your strengths.
We all like to play to our strengths and it’s usually easier to find your strengths than your weaknesses. But sometimes overusing our strengths can turn into a weakness.
For example, you might be a friendly, outgoing character who loves to talk which is a great strength in business and social life. But you might be overusing your strength by talking so much that you never give anyone else a chance to talk.
Or you might be a straight shooter, never mincing your words. Which tends to get things done but you inevitably hurt the people around you.
In this exercise, write down your strengths and possible downsides. Now figure out how you can dial it down when it starts to get too much.
Moderate the use of your strengths to make them remain an advantage, not a hazard.
Remember anything in excess is bad for you.
3. Self-evaluation.
Take time to think about past events. How did you react when last faced with a challenge? When things don’t go your way how do you behave? Where do you turn to when you are stressed out? How did you react to triggers?
Honest reflections will show you your blind spots.
Remember not to ruminate on your past failures, the point of the exercise is not to drain you, be gentle with yourself but also be practical in your self-assessment.
Finding yourself and allowing yourself to grow are the keys to unlocking your full potential. It’s not always life that’s throwing lemons at you, you might have a farm in your backyard, work on yourself.
