Self-awareness is often defined as conscious knowledge of one’s own character, feelings, motives, and desires. It’s key to self-control, decision making, creativity, learning, growth, and self-fulfillment. It creates value and helps you to influence others. It is a tool to proactively manage your beliefs, thoughts, emotions, decisions, and behaviors. Great leaders are self-aware and practice self-awareness activities daily. Who doesn’t want more clarity, empowerment, motivation, and positive energy flowing through their daily life?

Cultivating self-awareness requires an introspective approach, a system, and a process to engage in the recognition of ourselves actively and consciously as an individual. This means focusing on all our being—our beliefs (open or limiting), our physical state of health, our mental state of health, our spiritual state of health and more. It is an acceptance of all the good parts of ourselves and the areas that need improvement. It’s about who we are and what we do daily in each moment.

It takes courage to look at yourself deeply and honestly assess your being. I suggest you start by asking yourself a series of self-awareness questions. Pick five each day and write out your answers.

• • How do I spend the majority of my daily energy?
  • Did I do my best today?
  • Did I share value today?
  • Did I let go of those things that do not afford value?
  • What was my favorite moment of the day?
  • What did I learn today?
  • Did I serve others well today?
  • Was I grateful today?
  • Did I find good and celebrate it today?
  • When am I at my highest and best self?
  • How do I want to be perceived today?
  • Do I believe every thought I think, or do I validate my thoughts before I act?
  • How does being self-aware make me a better leader? A better parent? A better partner? A better person?
  • What made me laugh today? What made me joyful today?
  • Am I aware of my surroundings?
  • Do I feel inspired by something?
  • What do I need to stop doing?
  • What do I need to start doing?

Most begin the journey of conscious self-awareness because of a major life event or a trigger. Self-awareness is often brought to light by this unique opportunity, and if we are open to acceptance and cognitively processing the information, we then experience excellence, abundance, achievement, and contentment.

Self-awareness can be enhanced. It is a cognitive behavior process that can be worked on through learning and unlearning processes. Self-awareness requires 100% focus on self, not other factors, or people. It’s about you and you alone. It is the skill of being aware of our thoughts, emotions, and values from moment to moment. It requires a separation from ego and a true assessment of our values that drive our best and highest selves.

This is not easy todo when in the throes of everyday life and business are racing by at the speed of light. It can be difficult to juggle the responsibilities of our life roles: spouse, partner, parent, sibling, community leader, etc. The process of implementing daily self-awareness practices is humbling and requires focus, discipline, vulnerability, and the courage to change.

Self-awareness can be of great value to leaders when they are intentional in their daily approach to their own cognition, behavior, and relations. It is in the authenticity and integrity that leadership excellence is extended naturally in daily communications and actions. Here are four simple steps to practice everyday self-awareness:

1. Implement a daily mindfulness practice. I advise setting aside five minutes in the morning and five minutes in the evening. This is a general awareness of yourself, your environment, your systems, your processes, and the people you engage with daily. In the morning, write down your observations and priorities. Revisit them, briefly, at the end of day to measure the value added and write out a to-do and to-stop list that then can be reviewed the next morning.

2. Take regular breaks. Stop; breathe and observe. Don’t let yourself feel guilty for taking a moment to refresh your mind, body, and soul. Take in your environment, the people, the weather. Be present and allow yourself to not be distracted.

3. Pay attention. Engage with others through active listening. Pay attention to your surrounding environment by being aware of what is really going on. Notice your breath, how your body feels and the sights and sounds around you.

4. Stay curious. Be open, and always question your assumptions. Assume positive intent. Research things you are not quite sure of or do not know and ask relative and purposeful questions (especially if you are coaching others to excellence). Let your calendar/technology work for you and remind you of important activities.

Remember: Self-mastery through self-awareness is one of the single most important commitments you can make to yourself that will afford you positive, lasting change and improve your leadership presence. It will lead you to live your values truly and naturally in your daily journey of excellence.

More About Lori