Self Awareness Skills

Self-awareness is the ability to focus on yourself and how actions, thoughts, or emotions do or do not align with internal standards.

If there is anything I’ve learned through addiction it’s that being self aware is really important. Being willing to constantly evolve to become the best version of myself.

Self-Awareness in Addiction Recovery Is Important

Self-awareness and recovery can produce amazing results. Being self-aware in addiction recovery is important for a number of reasons.

Selflessness

When you develop personal awareness, you begin to realize the selfishness involved in addiction. Whether you intend to be this way or not, an addiction can bring out the selfish nature in you. This promotes personal gain without regard for the consequences. Self-awareness can help you realize how your behavior affects others.

Independence

Relying on others for support is normal when you’re going through something difficult. In addiction recovery, you may be especially dependent on certain people to help you get through the day; however, this pattern of behavior is unhealthy for you and the other person. This can even result in enabling, which can quickly lead to relapse. Instead, self-awareness encourages independence and reminds you that you’re the only person who can sustain your sobriety.

It helps you identify the good and the bad.

Self-awareness is important for addiction recovery because it also helps you figure out the things that trigger your addiction and the things that don’t. Understanding this is important in order to away from people, places, and things that can spark a relapse.

Accountability

Personal awareness also emphasizes honesty. Because denial is such a common trait in many addicts, self-awareness almost forces you to realize the impact your behavior can have on others. It also makes it difficult for you to lie about relapse or keep any difficulties to yourself.

“Your visions will become clear only when you can look into your own heart”

“Owning your story can be hard but not nearly as hard as spending the rest of your life running from it”

Keep an open mind. … Be mindful of your strengths and weaknesses. … Stay focused. … Set boundaries. … Know your emotional triggers. … Embrace your intuition. … Practice self-discipline. … Consider how your actions affect others

Self Awareness Skills:

• Empathy: When you fine-tune your self-awareness abilities, you will become more empathetic thanks to heightened emotional intelligence.
• Adaptability: If you know how you will react, you could avoid a tough situation by taking a walk or just taking a few deep breaths.
• Confidence: By accepting and even embracing your flaws, needs and strengths, you will increase your ability to be vulnerable, which allows for stronger relationships.
• Mindfulness: When you’re self-aware, you become more mindful of the present moment, allowing yourself to take situations as they happen rather than dwelling on the past or projecting into the future.
• Patience: While your immediate reaction might be to overreact, self-awareness will help you practice patience, even in the face of conflict.
• Kindness: This is achievable when you put aside your own feelings to support another person. Even if you’re having a bad day, being self-aware and realizing everyone is human with similar struggles can help you be more sympathetic.
• Focus: Focus on the positive instead of the negative

Books I recommend:

The Art of Self Awareness

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09PM89Z81/?tag=terradhayes-20

The 7 Habits of Highly Effictive People

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09LZ766JN/?tag=terradhayes-20