Self-awareness is multifaceted. It involves recognizing who you truly are, understanding the unique strengths you possess, and evaluating the people and items in your life to see if they still serve you. In this post, we’ll focus on becoming self-aware of who you are and what makes you tick—your core values and beliefs.
Understanding Self-Awareness
Being self-aware is about understanding, appreciating, and embracing everything we’ve picked up throughout our lives—the good and the bad, the bold and the beautiful. By becoming more self-aware, you open yourself up to the limitless possibilities of your life.
Two Types of People
There are generally two types of people:
- The Conformist:
- These individuals try to fit in at all costs, often mimicking others’ behavior, appearance, and choices. They learned early on that being different is not okay, and they fear being judged or ostracized. This fear of standing out can lead them to lose their true selves.
- Conformists often compare themselves to others, aspiring to achieve someone else’s life. This imitation can either lead to self-loathing and depression if they fail or a false sense of identity if they succeed.
- The Initiator:
- These individuals are their own people. They are self-aware and secure in who they are, not needing to conform to societal expectations. They accept their imperfections and see them as opportunities for growth.
- Initiators experiment with their likes and values, aligning their actions with their core beliefs. They don’t compete with others but strive to be better than they were yesterday.
Breaking Away from Conformity
When you feel stuck in life, doing the same thing day in and day out, you may be conforming to learned beliefs. These beliefs, absorbed from people and situations throughout your life, often feel like the only correct way to live. But I challenge you to question these beliefs.
A belief is just a validated thought. What makes the person you learned this belief from correct? Are they merely following the crowd?
Step Outside the Box
Why does there have to be a certain way to do things? Step outside the box and be yourself. Take the time to discover who you are. Challenge yourself to remove the labels and live beyond a cookie-cutter life. Free yourself from beliefs that keep you stuck, living by someone else’s ideas.
If you don’t have a plan or vision for your own life, you will inevitably buy into someone else’s vision.
Uncovering Your Potential
Until you shed limiting beliefs and step out of your comfort zone, daring to be yourself, you will never know what you are capable of. You have the potential to be so much more.
Join Our Community
At Inspire Her Possibilities, we help women over 50 rediscover their passions and live fulfilling lives. Whether through our in person self-discovery meetings or our community of women that support you through anything life throws at you and living your dreams, we empower you to break free from conformity and embrace your true self.