Self-awareness, why is it so important? Let’s talk about how taking a long honest look at yourself can transform everything. Experience self-discovery as you read through the target rings of “I CAN. I WILL. I AM.” listed on this free printable (email me and I will send it to you).
The first step in performance change is gaining self-awareness. Asking yourself thought-provoking questions is an effective strategy to take this first step. Gaining self-awareness is a never-ending cycle. Continuously keeping our minds open to new ways is how we expand and grow in becoming the best version of ourselves.
I want to encourage you to use this target as a way to increase your self-awareness.
As you look at the target you may want to ask yourself these thought-provoking questions:
1. Who am I when I am bringing my best self to each day in everything I do?
2. What does my best self look/feel like…physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually.
3. What will I continue doing to bring my best self consistently each day?
4. What can I start doing each day to improve how I bring my best self consistently each day?
In my book, Heart of a Champion, I tell the story of the moment when I gained some life-changing self-awareness:
“I was beyond inspired, motivated and determined to win the World.
But what I needed was to be disciplined. I needed to develop a plan and stick to it – to do what I said I was going to do. I needed to stop living on my intentions and begin living through my actions.”
I am so grateful for all the moments I have had that led me to these self-awareness moments. Hours before I had this epiphany, Lari Dee Guy, had encouraged me to be a better version of myself. I knew I wanted more, however in order to have more….I needed to become MORE and that’s when I really started making progress.
How Can Use Your Current Circumstances To Uncover Your Life-Changing Self-Awareness?
So, my question to you is, “How are you doing during the COVID-19 pandemic?”
“OK. Fine. Alright. I’m doing, Meh.”
These are not the answers I am wanting to hear. Let’s keep it real.
I really want to know, “How are YOU doing!?” (Seriously, shoot me a direct message on social media!) I want to encourage you to check in with yourself on a regular basis.
If your answer is, “I Am Crushing It,” then my answer to you is “FANTASTIC!” I encourage you to acknowledge this, celebrate it and own it! Keep After It! Keep Getting Better! Keep improving! Become MORE!
However, if you have the awareness that you are struggling; I want to encourage you to ask yourself, “Why? What is holding me back?” It isn’t until we ask the tough questions and get real answers that we can get to work.
I work with my clients in answering these very questions. I coach them on how they can implement mental performance strategies they need to do better. Take this opportunity of being at home to close the gap on your existing mindset and push onward to the person you are capable of becoming.
There are many reasons why we hold ourselves back; mental, physical, emotional reasons etc. There are mental performance strategies that you can implement which help you get unstuck and take the next step forward.
For example, a way to do this is to examine what does your Daily Routine looks like?
Our daily routine provides much insight about ourselves.
Some may say, “I don’t have a daily routine or I do not have time.” Some folks may say, “My day always turn into a knife fight. There is no way to implement a daily routine.”
Here’s the deal, everyone has a routine. Even if your days always turn into a knife fight, this is a routine. However, it may not be a very helpful or productive routine. Developing a solid routine, for instance in the morning and evening, is a great start. Because we have the most control of our day in the AM and PM. This is called a “Bookend Routine.”
When you win the morning you win the day!
Maya Angelou sums it up perfectly:
“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.”
My COVID-19 Playbook.
What we each are experiencing right now has never been experienced before. This is new territory for each of us, but let me share with you the first sentence in my “COVID-19 Playbook.”
“This is an Opportunity!”
My second sentence:
“During this time, you find and receive EXACTLY what you are actively thinking about and working towards.”
My third sentence:
“Use this time as an opportunity to Learn, Accept Challenges and Develop Your Elite Mindset!”
The colorful target that I am sharing with you today is an Awareness Target. Email me and I will send you a free printable copy! I want to encourage you to invest time into reading it. I want to challenge you to make this COVID-19 pandemic your opportunity to double down on your effort to keep working smart and hard towards becoming the best version of yourself.
Stay Focused on Your Goal.
As a daily reminder, I have this sign hanging in my barn. 2013 PRCA World Champion Tie-Down Roper, Shane Hanchey, tweeted:
Different Day
Different Journey
Same GOAL
Even though your your journey may look different; I want to encourage you to
Stay Focused On Your Target ~ Your Bold Goals.
Need to Give Yourself a Pep Talk?
Here are a few statements that I encourage you to print out and say out loud to yourself.
“Hard is not bad. Hard is hard.
Difficult is not bad. Difficult is difficult.
Struggle is not bad. Struggle is struggle,
Challenge is not bad. Challenge is challenge.
I get to choose how to respond to all events. (Including COVID-19)
I have the responsibility to choose my best response.
My best response equals my best outcome.”
~ Donene Taylor
DEVELOP A HEART OF A CHAMPION
More strategies to easily implement and train your focus can be found in my book, Heart of a Champion, Proven Strategies to Help You Discover the Heart of a Champion That Beats Within You. Investing time developing your self-awareness is invaluable, in fact I invest a lot of time coaching professional athletes on how to do just that and I would be honored to help you become the best you can be through one-on-one personally coaching sessions. If you would like to book a coaching session contact me at [email protected].