The Importance of Self Knowledge

What is Self Knowledge?

Self knowledge is knowing yourself intimately. It involves knowing your thoughts and feelings, how they came about, and how they influence your behavior. It is about understanding your needs, desires, motivations, beliefs, views and values. In short, it is about knowing how you tick and what makes you tick.

The tool for self knowledge is introspection, a looking within that focuses our attention on our thoughts, how they arise and disappear. This is best done in a quiet environment where you have time to watch and analyze your own thoughts. A busy life does not exclude this possibility of introspection or self reflection but it does make it less likely that you will do so. Furthermore, it is more difficult to watch a busy mind that runs and jumps everywhere like a monkey in a cage.

Why is self knowledge important?

Self knowledge is important because it helps you to understand yourself better. Through better self understanding, you are more able to be in control of your own life. You can then make life happens for you rather than have life happens to you.

It also helps you to find answer to the more insightful and spiritual question - "Who am I?"

Through self knowledge, we are in a better position to understand the outer physical universe as well as the inner metaphysical world within us, and to see how our mind becomes the interface for both experiences. We now know that the meanings we place on the "realities" of life have a greater effect on the quality of our human experience than the "realities" themselves. Thus, we can change the quality of our life simply by changing the way we think and view the world around us. We can become happier simply by changing ourselves, without changing the world. Paradoxically, when we do change ourselves, the world around us changes as well, as if on its own.

We live in a participatory universe where our thoughts and beliefs are very real "things" that affect the world around us. It is as if the content of our inner mind is reflected out into the physical world. This is how we create our own destiny. This is the understanding that will stop us from becoming a victim of circumstances, and instead become the master of our own destiny. This is the occult lesson in the ancient teachings of Hermes, in one of his seven spiritual laws. This spiritual law, called the Law of Correspondence, says "As Above, So Below. As Within, So Without".

This is a key lesson in self understanding, in knowing that we create our own lives and that we are fully and completely responsible for what we create - consciously AND unconsciously. It is extremely empowering to realize that whatever we create we can re-create, thus we are never a victim of circumstances. It is always within our power to change our lives.

Self knowledge allows us to recognize our error in thinking and to correct it. It is therefore the mean to a better and more fulfilling life - physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.

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Communication That Isn't Perfect

Are you ever worried that your communication isn't perfect? Before your conversation (i.e. in your head), you know what you want to say and how you want to say it. You may have also considered what the other person's thoughts or objections may be. You may even have learnt some new techniques (be it in training or coaching), but when put into practice it doesn't quite work out.

Communication is rarely going to be perfect. No two moments are the same, and no two conversations will be the same. So, rather than give ourselves a hard time if our discussion didn't go to plan, we have a great opportunity to learn from the imperfections!

Stressing out about a conversation, and trying to make it perfect, can only make it harder to do. And by being anxious, you also can't be the most effective YOU.

I remember going into appraisals with my team, concerned about how I was going to say the right thing, especially if it was going to be thought of as criticism. How do I position it, when do I say it, will they accept it or will the barriers go up and we achieve nothing?

Human nature, and therefore communication, is complicated. We have different preferences, different working styles, different tolerances and different motivational needs. We also have different experiences and knowledge we draw upon when we enter any kind of communication. What we hear and how we feel about the conversation is based on our own personal thoughts, and not necessarily what is being said to us.

I've always loved this quote: "I know that you believe that you understand what you think I said, but I'm not sure you realise that what you heard is not what I meant." - Pentagon Spokesman, Robert McCloskey

But we can help ourselves get the best out of our communication style. By relaxing, and accepting that every conversation will be different, we take the pressure off. We are then activating our executive part of our brain, where we can make connections and notice what is happening during the conversation.

To help yourself (and the other party) get the best from the communication:

• Develop self-awareness to understand how your attitudes, behaviours and beliefs contribute to your communication style.
• Develop your leadership skills to understand and appreciate different personality types and motivational needs.
• Develop the confidence to actively listen, make mistakes and encourage people to contribute to discussions.
• Understand how cognitive biases could be at play in your decision making and discussions.
• Take notice of where someone with a different point of view and challenge your thinking on it.

 
When we are not busy stressing about our own "performance" during the conversation, we can watch for tone and facial expressions. We can sense when someone has put their barriers up, or is no longer listening. We can bring authenticity. And therefore, we no longer have to worry about communication that isn't quite perfect.

 

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7 Helpful Tips To Sustain Your Motivation

When it pertains to getting things done, motivation can be hard to come by. Yet, that is precisely what is required. A small amount of motivation is needed to do little, simple things, like brushing your teeth. Larger jobs require more motivation to complete.

But how do you find motivation when you have none?

Discover how to really motivate yourself and you'll achieve more:

1. Use pain. If you cannot complete a specific job, what are the consequences? It may simply be the inconvenience of having more to do the following day. Or it could be the possibility of someone stopping by and seeing how dirty your home is.
Create several good reasons why failing to do complete a task would be painful to you.

2. Use satisfaction. Saving back £25 today might not be too exciting, but the vacation getaway you'll be taking next year is pretty terrific. Remind yourself of all the advantages you'll receive. Make a long list that will help to keep the fire burning inside to effectively handle those undesirable or dull tasks.
Envision the future you expect to enjoy from getting your jobs completed. Rehearse your successes in your mind over and over. Produce an image that motivates you take the next action enthusiastically.

3. Set short-term objectives. It's hard to stay motivated on a goal for more than 8-10 weeks. So, if you have a goal that will require a year to achieve, you'll run out of gas before you achieve success.
Break objectives that take a prolonged amount of time into smaller sized goals that can be achieved within 2 months.
To paraphrase Henry Ford, "If you take a large job, and break it into small parts, you'll make it easy."
 
4. Make the job more satisfying. Raking the leaves might seem like a terrible way to spend the afternoon, but what if you listened to your favorite music while you raked? You could even invite a few friends over for a cookout and ask them each to bring a rake, for a "barbecue raking" party!
Ask yourself, "How can I make this task as pleasurable as possible?" then listen to the responses you get.

5. Give yourself a reward. You would not go to work daily if you didn't earn money. The benefit you get suffices to keep you returning every day. Apply the very same idea to keep your motivation high enough to get things done. Think about a couple of things you truly take pleasure in and utilize them as motivation.

Just feeling pleased with your achievements can be a type of reward. Those that struggle with motivation are often hard on themselves. Enjoy your accomplishments and you can be sure to enjoy more progress in the future.

6. Take a deep breath. Few things will drain your motivation faster than an over-stimulated mind. Stay clear on what you're attempting to achieve and concentrate on the most direct path to obtain it. Deal with one task before moving on to another.
Keep your brain focused on your current job. Meditation is an effective tool for learning how to focus better.

7. Include another person. Going to the fitness center daily can be difficult. However if you know your exercise partner is awaiting you, it's harder to stay home. The presence of others can increase your level of commitment. Reach out to a friend.

Without motivation, willpower is the only option, and willpower is far more difficult to sustain than motivation. Learning how to control your motivation comes with learning how to manage yourself. There's little that can't be accomplished when you find out how manipulate your level of motivation. Even the most difficult jobs end up being manageable.

 

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