What if you could tap into a part of yourself that held the keys to unlocking your most significant potential, overcoming struggles, and relating better with others? Developing self-awareness allows you to do precisely that in a meaningful way.

Self-awareness provides you with an intimate understanding of what makes you tick. With knowledge of your strengths, growth areas, emotions, drives, and values, you can make choices aligned with your identity. This fuels greater fulfillment and self-actualization.

This article will guide you through:

Follow this roadmap to construct a more crystallized sense of your authentic self. It wont always be comfortable, but leaning into new levels of self-understanding will profoundly change your life.

Self-awareness involves developing a clear personality perspective, including your unique quirks. It relates to objectively understanding your emotions, drivers, strengths, and weaknesses.

The core components of self-awareness include:

Research reveals that people with higher self-awareness form more genuine relationships. They also tend to be more successful leaders and experience greater career satisfaction. Self-awareness appears pivotal for both personal and professional thriving.

Cultivating impactful self-awareness necessitates courage, emotional tolerance, and dismantling the egos defense mechanisms. It further requires cutting through assumptions instilled since childhood to access ones inner truth. The journey can feel intense, yet incredible freedom lies on the other side.

A dedication to self-reflection serves as the nonnegotiable foundation for increasing self-awareness. Unless youre intentionally looking inward, theres little opportunity for unpacking what defines you. Carving out space for regular introspection will allow self-knowledge to develop organically.

Try incorporating the following reflective strategies into your routine:

Schedule 10-30 minutes for your chosen contemplative activity at the same time daily. Consistency lifts the veil and creates momentum in gaining self-awareness.

While self-reflection reveals the what behind your experience, expanding your emotional intelligence spotlights the why. EQ measures your ability to understand, express, and manage emotions effectively.

Heres how EQ connectivity cultivates self-awareness:

There are myriad ways to lift your EQ. Seek books delving into emotions, relationships, and communication for tailor-made tips. Awareness starts with conscious commitment.

While personal effort lays the bedrock for increasing self-awareness, external input catalyzes profound transformation. Feedback verbalizes subtle aspects that you miss or deny about yourself. It accents the hidden and highlights blindspots.

Here are the best practices for integrating constructive criticism:

Yes, the mirror of feedback may sting, illuminating areas where self-improvement is needed. Yet, it also sheds light on strengths to harness. Both ends of this spectrum lead to actualization. Walk confidently beyond discomfort into new levels of self-awareness.

Beyond techniques for intermittent reflection, establishing a continuous mindful presence will nourish self-awareness over time. Mindfulness means sustained, nonjudgemental attention centered on the now. Maintaining receptive awareness allows you to tune into messages from within more clearly.

Try incorporating these mindfulness practices into your day for direct access to inner wisdom:

Regular time with mindful engagement increases understanding of your moment-to-moment experience. Your responses become conscious rather than automated, aligning choices with your values.

Dont be surprised if adversity arises while nurturing self-awareness. Developing a crystalline view of your inner landscape can feel intensely vulnerable. The ego is designed to uphold status quo identity unless overridden.

Common obstacles faced include:

When facing these roadblocks, focus on growth possibilities now available because of increased awareness. Leaning into self-expansion ultimately empowers while protecting rigidity and further limits. Meet yourself where youre at with compassiontiny steps forward, which suffices when the going gets tough.

Lifelong learning is essential for sustaining self-awareness. Conduct consistent check-ins to avoid complacency and backsliding into old patterns. Dedicate time annually for intensive self-reflection and harvesting feedback.

Further, consciously curate new situations which accentuate unseen aspects of your character. These may highlight areas requiring attention. Be willing to learn beyond comfortable boxes housing your identity.

Setting self-awareness goals for your 12-month and 3 to 5-year plan guarantees you stick with long-term positive progression. The exact aspiration depends on your starting point and developmental arc. You are reaching hitherto unknown levels of self-knowing, which promises to be enormously fulfilling.

Embarking on the continuous path toward self-awareness marks a radical commitment to self-honoring. By repeatedly digging beneath the surface, you discover the breadth of who you are beyond limiting labels. You gain agency in crafting your character.

The curriculum promises a challenge interwoven with freedom. While temporarily destabilizing, increased consciousness around your essence allows for moreover authentic living. You become poised to manifest your highest intentional potential. No longer defined by programming, you set the terms of your identity.

Self-awareness is the greatest gift you can give yourself, illuminating all available paths while spotlighting roadblocks. May continual curiosity color your voyage towards expanded self-understanding. Beyond Distraction lies your waiting magnificence.

Sarah felt perpetually stressed and unsatisfied without understanding why. She had achieved outward success as a lawyer but handled internally misaligned. After an anxiety attack, she decided to commit to self-awareness practices radically.

Sarah began journaling before bed, chronicling what she did, felt, and wanted each day. After several months, she noticed a craving for more interpersonal connection, though she had initially feared vulnerability. Sarah also reflected on recurrent feedback that she seemed impatient and aloof.

These discoveries contrasted with Sarahs self-image as independent and emotionally self-sufficient. With compassionate objectivity, she systematically explored her avoidance of intimacy. Mindfulness meditation revealed attachment wounds from childhood lurking under Sarahs autonomous facade.

Owning these hidden parts unlocked deep self-acceptance. Sarah gradually risked sharing her authentic self in social settings, finding folks responded positively. As she continued vocalizing her needs, Sarah built profoundly nourishing friendships. Her anxiety likewise eased with reduced pretense and mindful presence.

Three years in, Sarah feels fully self-expressed yet still keeps learning. Her continuous self-awareness practice remains life-affirming, carving space for whoever she grows into through each phase. There is joy in the journey of actualizing.

There is genius locked inside, longing for expression. Embracing the adventure of self-discovery promises to unveil untapped potential and new freedom. While excising demons that uphold disguise and denial poses challenges, authentic living waits as the reward. Lean into intrigue about the mystery within. Your highest self awaits activation through courage and unrelenting commitment to self-awareness. The choice to know yourself sets you on the most thrilling journey.

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How To Build Self-Awareness That Transforms You - New Trader U

Its already writing beautiful poetry. Photo by Aideal Hwa on Unsplash

Before I even delve into the topic, I know that many of you will think this question is insane. How can something thats not human or even real develop feelings or self-awareness?

Consider this. Not too long ago, it was considered crazy to believe in UFOs and aliens.

Yet in July, The House Oversight subcommittee on National Security, the Border, and Foreign Affairs held a hearing on UFOs, officially known as unidentified aerial phenomena, or UAPs. Witnesses claimed they have seen UAPs and that it is common for pilots to do so. Ryan Graves, a witness and former Navy pilot said UAP sightings among commercial and military pilots are both routine and grossly underreported."

Witnesses also claimed that the Pentagon has recovered non-human biologics and ran a program that attempted to retrieve and reverse engineer UAPs.

In a statement ahead of the hearing, Rep. Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the subcommittee overseeing the hearing, said: The American people deserve transparency about UAPs, and Congress should work in a bipartisan way to understand any potential national security implications.

The public belief in UAPs and extraterrestrial life is now higher than its ever been. According to this article in The Hill, the share of Americans who believe UFO sightings offer likely proof of alien life rose from 20 percent in 1996 to 34 percent in 2022, according to polls by Newsweek and YouGov.

Isnt that something?

Something that was once believed to be unbelievable, and made people believe you were slightly off kilter if you believed it, is now widely accepted as true.

Artificial intelligence, when it was first developed in the 1950s, was defined as as a machines ability to perform a task that wouldve previously required human intelligence.

In 1952, a computer scientist named Arthur Samuel developed a program to play checkers, which is the first to ever learn the game independently.

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Will AI Become Conscious and Sentient? | by Rosalyn Morris | Jan, 2024 - Medium

Negative, pessimistic thinking and the tendency to overthink are typical thought patterns that can heavily influence our emotions and behaviors. Understanding the basis of these unhealthy thinking habits and actively working to shift our mindsets can lead to profound improvements in mental health and quality of life.

Negative thinking refers to an excessive focus on the unpleasant, worrying aspects of any situation. It often manifests as criticism, expectation of failure, catastrophic predictions, or self-doubt. Examples include thoughts like Im not good enough, Things will never get better, Ill just mess this up, etc. This type of thinking can have serious consequences.

Psychologically, negative thinking reinforces neural pathways in the brain associated with fear, stress, and unhappiness. Physically, it triggers the fight or flight response, raising cortisol, blood pressure, and heart rate. It is linked to mental health issues like depression and anxiety disorders. Needlessly creating stress also weakens the immune system and gastrointestinal function over time.

Negative thoughts often lead to overthinking by fueling excessive examination of problems or events and their possible adverse outcomes.

Overthinking refers to thought beyond reasonable problem-solving into repetitive, paralyzing rumination. Characteristics include rehashing the exact solutions without resolution, asking endless what if questions, or worrying excessively about unlikely outcomes.

While negative thinking focuses on the pessimistic view of ones circumstances, overthinking takes this further by entrapping people in endless cycles of thinking about their problems. Common triggers include receiving critical feedback, decision-making, conflict with others, financial stress, health issues, or significant life changes.

Overthinking impedes clear judgment, problem-solving, and appropriate action. The constant rumination burns mental and emotional energy without providing real solutions or moving one forward. This often escalates anxiety.

Becoming more self-aware is critical to managing unhealthy thought habits. Daily journaling about thoughts, emotions, and behavior can unveil negativity and overanalysis patterns. Tracking mood shifts around common triggers can also provide insight. Mindfulness meditation helps people tune into their thought patterns objectively without judgment.

Seeking input from trusted friends and family often provides an outside perspective on rumination habits. Their feedback helps answer questions like Do I tend to criticize myself readily? Do I replay uncomfortable conversations for days after? Honest self-evaluation, along with supportive feedback, lays the groundwork for change.

Transforming negative thinking requires interrupting and consciously disputing its irrational foundations. For every negative thought, ask questions like Is this completely true or balanced? How might I view this differently? Whats the kinder perspective?

Cognitive therapy techniques help challenge negativity biases through logical reasoning, evidence gathering, and identifying cognitive distortions. Positive affirmations can strengthen new neural pathways related to self-confidence and optimism. Over time, purposefully cultivating balance and encouraging self-talk trains the brain to move away from its negative tendencies.

Lifestyle factors like regular exercise, stress management, social connection, and proper nutrition support this shift at a biological level by lowering cortisol, stabilizing mood, and promoting self-confidence. For some, counseling provides needed support in embracing change.

In the moment, overthinking can be curbed by directing focus elsewhere listening to music, doing chores, exercising, etc. Setting a timer for 5-10 minutes and vowing to resume thinking about the problem later often breaks obsession in the moment. Calling a friend to verbalize worries may provide enough perspective to quieten racing thoughts.

Creating structure also helps manage overthinking tendencies in the long term. Making daily to-do lists with reasonable limits focuses energy on tasks rather than worries. Embracing problem-solving versus dwelling on what already occurred excites people from rumination. Seeking support groups connects people facing similar struggles.

Mindfulness and meditation build skills in emotional regulation and instill healthy mental habits. By training focus and awareness on the present versus rehashing the unchangeable past, these tools calm overactive minds vulnerable to overanalysis. Setting small, manageable goals versus huge visions also prevents paralyzing overwhelm.

With concerted efforts to challenge negative assumptions through logical questioning and conscious positivity training, unhealthy thought patterns loosen their grip. Introducing new habits like mindfulness, exercise, and nonjudgmental self-talk builds mental resilience against negativity and long-term rumination.

Befriending oneself on the journey with ample self-compassion about setbacks and humanness creates a safe mental space to heal at ones own pace. Surrounding oneself with positive social connections offers a mirroring of strengths versus flaws to internalize. With tools, social support, and the willingness to seek therapy when progress stalls, people seeking relief from toxic thinking patterns can create lasting change.

Sam struggled for years with harsh self-criticism and pessimism that worsened during college. He regularly overthought conflicts, replaying heated conversations for weeks. Feeling overwhelmed and stuck in analysis paralysis, Sam decided to make changes after college.

He kept a thought journal, tracking self-judgment and what if ruminations. Reviewing these patterns provided self-awareness that his negativity focused on confidence issues and social interactions. Sam began countering negative thoughts with positive affirmations, meditation, and exercise. He set a timer to limit overthinking and called friends during obsessive episodes.

Within several months, Sam curbed negative assumptions by fact-checking his self-criticism. His positive practice calmed rising anxiety. Setting small goals boosted success versus feeling overwhelmed. After a year, Sams outlook felt transformed with greater self-compassion, emotional stability, and life satisfaction.

Negative thought cycles quickly entrench our minds, undermining our well-being. These unconscious thought habits can evolve by recognizing root patterns, implementing lifestyle changes, and purposefully shifting perspectives. Redirecting mental energy toward positivity, solution-focused thinking, and mindful presence empowers clarity and purpose in the long term. With compassionate self-awareness, we can rewire our brains for health, thereby transforming the possibilities before us. This journey requires commitment but offers profound hope for mental peace and life fulfillment by moving beyond the traps of negativity and obsessive rumination.

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Negative Thinking and Overthinking - New Trader U

Emotional intelligence is the ability to understand and manage ones emotions, read the emotions of others and adjust ones approach to meet the emotional needs of others.

Emotional intelligence is an important skill in the workplace, especially for leaders. It is critical to developing a positive company culture where team members feel heard, valued and comfortable collaborating with each other in the pursuit of organizational goals.

Emotional intelligence is the ability to recognize and regulate your emotions. It also includes the ability to recognize others emotions, learn what motivates them and use that information to form collaborative relationships.

Emotional intelligence refers to ones ability to understand and control their emotions, as well as interpret others emotions and use that information to foster more meaningful, productive relationships.

The term emotional intelligence was first coined in 1990 by researchers Peter Salovey and John D. Mayer, but garnered mainstream attention in 1995, when science journalist Daniel Goleman published his book Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ.

An emotionally intelligent person will remain positive and solutions-oriented in stressful situations, actively seek feedback for self-improvement and take ownership when they fall short of expectations. In conversations with others, they listen attentively, ask thoughtful questions and empathize with the other person. Emotional intelligence goes far beyond being likable, and includes the ability to offer constructive criticism, manage conflicts and lead organizational changes.

Researchers have developed several types of assessments to measure a persons emotional intelligence, which can be quantified as an emotional quotient (EQ). While some people are more predisposed to emotional intelligence either through genetics, their upbringing or other life experiences its also a skill that can be learned over time.

Related Reading What Are Interpersonal Skills?

Emotional intelligence can help employees identify their own strengths, weaknesses and motivations, and then make career choices that align with their values. It can also help them learn what other people are feeling and how they can best relate to those people, which leads to healthy workplace relationships.

Emotional intelligence in the workplace is especially important for leaders. In his 1998 essay What Makes a Leader?, Goleman explains that business acumen and technical proficiency will always be important, but they are merely entry-level requirements for a leadership position. To be truly effective, a leader must also possess emotional intelligence. In fact, Goleman said 90 percent of the difference between an average leader and a top-performing leader can be attributed to emotional intelligence.

Without it, a person can have the best training in the world, an incisive, analytical mind, and an endless supply of good ideas, but he still wont make a good leader, Goleman wrote.

An emotionally intelligent manager will be able to set the emotional tone of group discussions and guide employees through stressful projects, tight deadlines and uncertain circumstances. When a manager knows how employees feel and what they value, they can use that information to better recognize their achievements and motivate them to reach team goals.

You want a boss who has these skills, said David Caruso, a management psychologist, author and co-founder of Emotional Intelligence Skills Group.Because theyre going to hear you, theyre going to see you and theyre going to acknowledge you.

Regardless of ones position in a company, emotional intelligence is a critical skill for forging and maintaining healthy workplace relationships.

If Im not strong in EQ, we could be in a conversation and I would not be aware that something is bothering you or youre worried about something, Christina Wang, a fractional HR consultant at Peak Advisory Consulting, told Built In. Its just about me, myself, and what I want, and were not going to be able to have a deeper connection or relationship.

When a colleague or manager has high emotional intelligence, coworkers know they can talk to them without fear of judgment, hostility or other reactive emotions. If a colleague lacks emotional intelligence, team members may not trust them and avoid talking to them unless its absolutely necessary. This lack of communication can cause mistakes, inhibit productivity and stifle innovation.

If the way we talk is always past each other, Wang said, were not going to create anything thats amazing.

Emotionally intelligent leaders are known for their ability to stay calm, optimistic and goal-oriented during times of change or hardship. They are also known for their ability to lead change while also being mindful of others feedback.

For example, if a team is rolling out a new initiative, an emotionally intelligent manager may be able to pick up on workers reluctance or anticipate how the new initiative will make their job harder. They can use this as an opportunity to validate or address the workers concerns.

Organizations with emotionally intelligent managers are more likely to have high leadership performance outcomes and high employee engagement. When leaders underwent emotional intelligence training at Siemens, for example, the organization saw a 46 percent increase in employee engagement.

One study found that 90 percent of top-performing employees are emotionally intelligent. Further, an internal study by PepsiCo found that managers with high emotional intelligence exceeded their annual revenue goals by up to 20 percent.

Research has also shown that emotionally intelligent professionals earn an average of $29,000 per year more than their colleagues.

When teams are high in emotional intelligence, people are able to communicate, solve problems and achieve results together. Numerous studies have shown that emotional intelligence contributes to job satisfaction and employee morale.

Employees are more likely to stay with an organization when there arent workplace conflicts, communication issues and unnecessary barriers to success. A Korn Ferry study found that emotionally intelligent leaders can inspire up to 70 percent of employees to stay with an organization for five years or longer.

Related Reading What Are Soft Skills?

In his book Emotional Intelligence, Goleman identified five key elements of emotional intelligence: self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy and social skill.

Self-awareness is the ability to recognize ones emotions and how they show up in the workplace. Someone with high self-awareness understands their own strengths, weaknesses and personality type, and they may check in with their emotions before speaking or making a decision. If they realize that they are more talkative than their colleagues, they might intentionally make space for other perspectives in a conversation. A self-aware person will also be aware of their own limitations, which will prevent them from taking on a project they arent equipped for.

In addition to being aware of their emotions, an emotionally intelligent person should be able to control their impulses. They wont lose their temper when someone makes a mistake, and theyll think about their words before they speak. A person who regulates their emotions will also be well-equipped for a dynamic business world, as they are more likely to suspend judgment amid changing conditions instead of reflexively resisting a new way of doing things.

Emotionally intelligent individuals are less driven by money, status or job titles as they are a sense of achievement and an interest in the work itself. They are on a quest for self-improvement, and they are always looking for ways to improve themselves and their team. Even when faced with obstacles, they remain optimistic and focused on meeting their goals. Motivation is especially important in leadership positions, as it can inspire other team members to push themselves to their full potential.

Empathy is a core component of emotional intelligence. By listening to other peoples issues and putting yourself in their shoes, you are able to consider how your actions or words affect other people on your team. Leaders cant be expected to make everybody happy, but they should be able to understand where their teammates are coming from. An empathetic person will also be able to pick up on another persons body language and sense emotions that may have gone unsaid.

An emotionally intelligent person will be able to build a rapport with other people and find common ground. They will also be able to manage and sustain relationships, which is a must-have leadership trait. Social skill doesnt just mean being friendly. Goleman defines it as friendliness with purpose. A leader may have to sell employees on the merits of a new initiative, or they may have to build relationships across departments to get a project across the finish line, both of which require social skill.

Related ReadingWhy Self-Awareness Is a Crucial Management Skill

Developing your emotional intelligence takes practice over time, but the extra effort is worth it. Here are some tips to get started.

The first step to improving your emotional intelligence is to get a handle on your emotional strengths and weaknesses.By being aware of your emotional state, you can acknowledge your emotions without letting them control you, the energy you bring to a meeting and the interactions you have with coworkers.

Most people overestimate their emotional intelligence, Caruso said, so its best to use an assessment tool like the Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT). You can also try to assess your emotions by noticing if emotions like anxiety, anger or sadness are linked to certain people or situations and then determining what factors are driving those emotions.

By better understanding ones own emotions, one can become better at detecting and interpreting emotional signals in others, said Joshua Freedman, founder and CEO of emotional intelligence nonprofitSix Seconds.

As we get better at tuning in and sensing our own feelings and making sense of them, that is the pathway that shifts the way we have our conversations and what we listen for, Freedman said.

Sometimes it can be difficult to see through the fog of our own emotions, which is why it can be helpful to seek an outside perspective. A 360-degree assessment is a popular feedback mechanism, but the feedback may not be honest if people dont think you can handle constructive criticism. You could also lean on the feedback of a trusted colleague to tell you how you presented yourself in a work situation. If you obtain the necessary permissions, you could also record audio or video of yourself in meetings and review the recording with a career coach.

Knowing oneself and managing ones emotions is no small feat, so it can be helpful to talk with a therapist or coach to process these emotions and gain the tools necessary to improve ones emotional intelligence over time.

Emotional intelligence is best learned through real-life situations and coaching. Instead of giving a presentation to a full company, Freedman has found that its most effective to coach leaders over the course of several months, working with them to incorporate emotionally intelligent practices into the processes at every level of the organization.

There are also many popular books about emotional intelligence. In A Leaders Guide to Solving Challenges With Emotional Intelligence, for example, Caruso lays out four skills that leaders can put into practice, like matching their work to match their level of energy and pleasantness. If youre feeling low energy and low pleasantness, for example, your time might be better spent proofreading a document for errors instead of leading a group brainstorming session. Other popular books about emotional intelligence include Emotional Agility, Emotional Intelligence 2.0 and The Emotionally Intelligent Manager.

Emotional intelligence cant simply be picked up by reading a book or attending a seminar. Its a skill that needs to be developed and a muscle that needs to be exercised over time.

The people and situations we encounter can sometimes trigger a response from our limbic system, the emotional center of our brain, but emotional intelligence requires us to process those emotions with the rational part of our brain in the prefrontal cortex. By consciously practicing emotional intelligence skills, you can develop the neurons connecting these two parts of the brain, helping you to understand why you feel emotions and how you can manage them.

Related Reading Are You an Empathetic Leader?

Emotional intelligence can be used to develop positive relationships, navigate change and consider other perspectives. This creates an environment where people feel heard, share ideas and are motivated to achieve organizational goals.

A person can improve their emotional intelligence by assessing their emotions, gathering feedback from others and seeking advice from counselors, books and other resources. By practicing skills like self-awareness, empathy and active listening, one can grow their EQ over time.

Golemans five characteristics of emotional intelligence areself-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy and social skill.

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Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace: What It Is, Why It's Important - Built In

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Umeetas Around the Plate in 6 Senses is a book that sheds light on how our senses can assist us in bringing awareness to the bodys signals. Written by Ansari Ori who is a registered psychological counselor and a certified international health and wellness coach. Ori has a double Masters in Holistic Psychology and Coaching and Around the Plate in 6 Senses is her debut book.

She speaks with Gisele Wertheim Aymes about how she hopes to inspire more people to become more aware and mindful of their health-related choices.

You can eat all the kale in the world, right? But if you are not attending to the other aspects of your life, then it doesnt really create a sense of well-being for you.

She was inspired to write Around the Plate in 6 Senses in 2018. After two years of extensive research, her writing process took a turning point in 2020, when she found herself stuck in South Africa during the Covid-19 lockdown, and unable to return home. She completed her book during her four months stuck in the country.

In six senses, I added intuition because it has, for me, in my experience, been the one thing that has helped me realize, in many aspects of my life, when something is wrong. Its not always easy to hone into the intuition factor. But I think its again, and Im saying this over and over again, just more awareness.

The book is a reminder to slow down in your tracks, take a breath, and listen to your body communicating to you via your senses. Living a healthy life definitely involves what is on your plate, but it is not the only factor determining your health and well-being.

We have so many processes going on at the moment, even though we are not mindful or aware of it. But when something goes wrong in our system, which is the body, it is bound, okay, maybe not 100% of the time, but most of the time, it is bound to give you an alert and alert of some kind.

Ori emphasizes the need to focus on self-awareness and self-care of the mind and body to make the best decisions to optimize your health.

She says, So responsibility, to an extent, does lie with us in the sense that we just need to be more mindful of what is going on. Nobody will know what is going on with you, except yourself. You go to a doctor, and you explain to him as well. You know, these are my symptoms and all sorts of things, you know, but everyone is different.

Ori also did research that showed how background noise or music influences eating behavior. For example, slow-tempo music in a restaurant results in customers staying longer and consuming more beverages, while loud music is associated with increased soft drink and alcohol consumption (club scenes).

She adds, if you read my book, you will understand Im surrounded by music here. My husband is a musician. He plays instruments and music has been found to also influence how you eat, what you choose to eat, and how fast you eat.

Photo by Pixabay

The book also looks at how the senses help you make appropriate food choices and make you aware of the signs and signals that your smart-bod continually gives you when there is an imbalance in the system. You will be in awe of the transformation in your health by the awareness of the role the senses play on and around the plate.

When you are given any kind of health advice, what works for me may not work for you. Depending on many years, depending on your lifestyle, depending on your likes, depending on lots of things. Find out what works for you. Thats important. One size does not fit all. The other thing is, I think we need to teach our children, which, for me, is very critical. And I wish I had been taught this when I was younger, to teach children where food comes.

Around the Plate in 6 Senses is available for purchase on Amazon. Go on and enjoy this sensory journey of health and well-being.

The video interview contains the full dialogue of this interview, and you can watch it below.

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Around the Plate in 6 Senses: Journey of selfawareness, and well-being - Longevity LIVE

Self-awareness has become a widely recognized meta-skill of the 21st century, as described by Tasha Eurich in her book Insight. Self-awareness consistently shows up as a critical element for leaders in any business to master if they want to motivate a team to produce results. In fact, self-awareness is the key to increasing confidence, building better relationships, and living a meaningful life. The irony of self-awareness is that those that are most confident in their abilities are usually the least competent. In fact, it is very likely that they will overestimate their ability as a leader, colleague, athlete, parent, or even drivers to name a few skills.

Known as the Dunning-Kruger effect, we all suffer from a type of cognitive bias that acts like a pair of rose coloured glasses that prevent us from seeing ourselves the way the rest of the world sees us. We have all experienced a moment where we (or somebody else) are humbled by reality regarding our level of fitness, the actual number on the scale when we weigh ourselves, our performance on an exam or the lack of laughing at what we think is a great joke or in the case of a CEO, the deafening silence that follows their request for some honest conversation amongst the executive team.

You cant see your own bias

Rather than start a debate about how self-aware you or your team are, I want all of us to accept that our perspectives on ourselves are all a little bit skewed, laced in optimism and lies that are designed to make us feel better about ourselves. The truth is, unless you are getting feedback from somebody else, its going to be a lie. Further to this point, depending on how you approach seeking feedback and the people you approach, they may be less than forthcoming with the truth due to fear of conflict. An even greater fear that holds true for all of us is being ostracised or ousted from the group as a result of our well-intentioned honesty.

Whats the end goal?

The goal here is to enable you to see yourself the way others see and experience you. In other words, to close the gap between reality and your perception. Stepping outside yourself and seeking feedback from another persons perspective is the best way to do this. True perspective is the positive alignment of how you see yourself with how the rest of the world sees you. The greater the overlap, the better your leadership will be. Of course, if you see yourself negatively and so does the rest of the world, you are aligned but your leadership will be terrible.

Whats the best tool to use?

Traditionally 360-degree assessments, a survey that contrasts your self-view with that of your manager, peers, and direct reports, is the go-to tool to increase self-awareness but be warned that unless youve established enough maturity, curiosity and openness within yourself, you will likely reject or ignore any feedback. This is a damaging outcome for you, but its an even worse outcome for the people who provided the feedback in the first place. It signals to them that you dont care, dont want to change, dont respect their opinions and dont value their perspectives. If youre comfortable with this, then you shouldnt be in a leadership role.

Instead, before you jump into seeking feedback, you must first have clarity about how youd like to be experienced. When youre clear on the type of person and leader you want to be, feedback is received in relation to this clarity so you can close any gaps between your ideal self and the reality other people experience. Im talking about receiving feedback on the legacy you are actively trying to create as a leader. To help you with this try answering the following questions for yourself.

Lastly, developing self-awareness is a non-negotiable part of leadership but everyone can get better at it. It is an iterative process that oscillates between awareness and action. Before asking for help from others, stake a claim as to what you stand for, how you lead and how you want to be remembered.

Written by Joe Hart.Have you read?Amor LeadershipbyLeo Bottary.Reimagining the future of sustainable hospitality with a 2050 mindset.Living Your Values as a Key for Resilient Leadership A Conversation with Mike Ward (CEO IKEA Canada)byCraig Dowden.How to Build a Leadership Team that Delivers Great ResultsbyMichael Dattoli.Making Difficult Decisions Easily Based On Value SystemsbyRene Pardo.

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How leaders can build greater self-awareness and why it matters - CEOWORLD magazine

Rebuild your leadership momentum by doing a mental checkup.

As the July heat smolders, you realize that the year is half over. And what is happening with your momentum? You know - that feeling that you have the wind at your back.

With momentum, you feel strong and exhilarated. You are making significant progress, and you are unrestrained. Nothing can stop you now, right?

Perhaps you fit the description, or maybe you, like many, are just not feeling it right now. Perhaps you are stalled. Possibly you feel like you are standing still or falling behind rather than moving forward with vigor.

The path to momentum can be complicated. However, crucial to find it is aligning how you allot your time and energy with the aspects of your life and work most meaningful to you.

As you stop and reflect on your current priorities, you may find what you truly want from your life, work, and leadership has shifted over the past couple of crisis-ridden years. Maybe your actions havent kept up.

To reclaim momentum, take a time-out to ponder whether your efforts are still aligned with your deepest desires.

Here are three steps to get you started.

When your time and energy commitments are out of line with what you consider to be your highest priorities, you are very likely to feel some discontent. The restlessness you experience can depress your momentum.

You may not even realize why you are edgy. High-achiever leaders tend to put their heads down and do the work before them without pausing to ask themselves whether it is worth the effort.

As you think about where you are spending the most time and energy at work, ask yourself these questions:

Are the goals you are working towards the right ones for our times? The pandemic led to significant shifts in our world and our work. Have you examined your plans for continuing relevance?

Do you still believe in the importance of what you are doing? Does it align with your values? Your desires? Your strengths?

As you examine your top life priorities, consider whether your work or some other aspect of your life is taking over and drowning out other priorities.

Momentum grows with alignment and balance.

Maybe you are already clear on how to contribute and what impact you desire through your leadership. However, some leaders fail to consider these critical decisions. They take for granted their responsibility to fulfill the role they play within the parameters handed to them.

Perhaps. However, most find their enthusiasm for their work rides on whether they experience it as meaningful.

You bring personal purpose, strengths, and aspirations to your work. A disconnect between what you want and what you do can depress your motivation and satisfaction.

Of course, you may feel constrained by personal responsibilities tying you to your role, even if it isn't a good fit with what you desire. But dont accept these constraints too quickly.

Clarify the impact you crave and consider how to modify your role to increase it. Talk with your colleagues, team, and manager to explore possibilities.

And if you come out empty-handed, consider looking for a role that will provide more of what you are looking for.

Momentum is more significant when you work at something meaningful to you.

For many years, corporations took for granted that companies should organize into a hierarchy. Furthermore, most assumed power should flow from official roles of authority. Few questioned a command and control form of leadership.

Yet over time, research showed this traditional leadership style wasnt working well. A recent Inc. Magazine headline proclaimed, Command and Control Leadership is Dead. The article said this outdated type of leadership leads to dissatisfied employees and is unsuitable for innovation.

The call for more collaborative leadership picked up steam during the pandemic. Turbulent and uncertain times call for an increased emphasis on trust. And collaborative leadership builds it.

Now is the time to reconsider carefully your framework for leading. The workplace and workforce changed as a result of past and present crises.

In our fast-paced and turbulent times, leaders and companies must be agile and flexible - characteristics conflicting with hierarchical organizations and command and control leadership.

What does this mean for you? Now is the time to consider whether your leadership framework is still effective.

Try out some fresh ways of leading. You may discover you have been running up against leadership limits you werent aware were dampening your effectiveness.

So where does this fast, challenging, and changing world leave you as you search for a way to rebuild momentum?

If your energy is flagging, take a timeout to raise your self-awareness. Reboot if you discover your habits, beliefs, and actions are limiting motivation and effectiveness.

In an article in the New York Times, columnist David Brooks suggests that as the world changes, everyone must learn how to reorganize your mind, and see with new eyes. Wise words for regaining your momentum.

Link:
How To Rebuild Leadership Momentum In Three Easy Steps - Forbes

Often times, it takes both added distance and the passing of time to see a clear view of the path that led you to where you are today. Celebrated singer-songwriter Mary Bragg takes an honest look on a tough but transformative season of life within her upcoming self-titled album, set for release on Sept. 30 via Tree Tone Music.

"This record covers just about every corner of my heart," Bragg explains. "In writing these songs, some of which I really didnotwant to write, but had to, I discovered with a fresh sense of renewal the power that writing through pain has."

Her new single "Panorama" is a striking reflection of a moment long past that left a lasting image in her mind. Backed by aching pedal steel alongside a blend of electric and acoustic guitar, Bragg finds herself looking back at a moment through a new perspective.

"'Panorama" describes a perspective shift, when your awareness of a place, and of the relationships surrounding thatplace, changedrastically," she notes. "Its a view you canonly find once you take a look at it from, say, the top of a ferris wheel at thecounty fair, or manyyears later, from a thousand miles away."

Listen to "Panorama" below:

"Panorama" is one of 12 new tracks featured on Bragg's self-titled LP, which includes collaborations with Nashville-based singer-songwriters Caroline Spence, Erin Rae andPeter Groenwald of the Hush Kids. The project takes an honest look at a time of intense personal rediscovery, change and growth that occurred over the past three years.

In 2021, Bragg relocated from Nashville to New York City to help grow her skills in the field of music production. The choice to shift her focus towards working in this creative field came after she discovered how widespread the lack of female representation was within the production side of the recording industry.

"When thepandemic hit, I finally had the time to evaluate what I really wanted, both personally andprofessionally," she explains. "Id beenproducing a lot on my own, but I still didnt consider myself arealproducer. When Ilearned that only 3% of producers on theBillboard charts right now are women, I decided to strip myself of that self-consciousness and go all in."

Mary Bragg panorama

Bragg is one of this year's official showcasing artists at AmericanaFest 2022, which will be held Sept. 13-17 in Nashville. You can find more information about all of her upcoming tour dates, as well as additional ticketing information, at Mary Bragg's official website.

Mary Bragg's Self-Titled Album Track List:1. "Love Each Other"2. "Hard Time" (feat. Caroline Spence)3. "The Lonely Persistence of Time"4. "Same Kid"5. "Please Dont Be Perfect"6. "Nothing More to the Story"7. "Panorama"8. "Colorblind" (feat. Peter Groenwald)9. "Constellation Change"10. "In the Light" (feat. Erin Rae)11. "Good Side of Blue"

Prine's lyrical stories were both fantastical and simple; he wrote with a Midwest-bred honesty and humor that kept listeners on their toes.His catalog, spread over 18 albums, contains vivid stories ("Lake Marie"), insightful looks at the human condition ("Hello in There") and sweet love songs ("Aimless Love").

These 13 Prine lyrics -- largely pulled from his songs' choruses -- are some of his very best:

Continued here:
Mary Bragg Shifts Her Perspective in Soaring New Track 'Panorama' - The Boot

Were entering a second disruption of re-emergence into the new normal. This endemic requires reorientation, adjustment, and a different kind of learning. People in organizations, businesses, and social systems feel this need. Women, perhaps, feel it most strongly. Data and anecdotal evidence show that women especially are devoting more time responding to childcare, eldercare, and homecare, often at the expense of careers and a sense of well-being.

As a woman, a coach, and a group facilitator, Im interested in strategies of resilience and adaptability that support reframing disruption as a potential opportunity for positive change. Resilience refers to the capacity to work through and to overcome setbacks. Adaptability refers to the ability to make necessary adjustments that let us move forward. Resilience and adaptability need to be embedded in the narratives we use when confronting adversities.

My late mother serves me as an example of such a narrative. After surviving the loss of her family in WWII, she immigrated to Montreal, Canada. Despite few resources and formidable social and language challenges, within 10 years, she began a fifty-year career as a successful realtor. A compelling story of resilience and adaptability can be empowering; a catalyst to keep trying. We all carry the stories we tell ourselves about what is and is not possible. Among the first steps in managing disruption is to review those stories. Do the stories you tell yourself reinforce your fears, or do they inspire your sense of possibility? Choose what is inspiring, and take actions to exercise and build your resilience and adaptability. Here are some ways to do so:

Visit link:
Resilience and Adaptability in the New Normal - SWAAY