Week 4-NSTP 1 PDF

LEARNING OBJECTIVES: 1. Define self-awareness; 2. Discuss the different ways to strengthen self-awareness; and 3. Utilize ideas and information gained from previous readings and personal experience for better understanding. Personal Development and Self-awareness The Johari Window...

LEARNING OBJECTIVES: 1. Define self-awareness; 2. Discuss the different ways to strengthen self-awareness; and 3. Utilize ideas and information gained from previous readings and personal experience for better understanding. Personal Development and Self-awareness The Johari Window - The Johari Window is a framework for understanding conscious and unconscious bias that can help increase self- awareness and our understanding of others. It is the creation of two psychologists, Joseph Luft and Harrington Ingham, who named the model by combining their first names. It is composed of four quadrants in which people using the framework can identify what they know about themselves and what other people know about them. This results in four areas of understanding The Four Quadrants of Self 1. The Public Self – is the part of ourselves that we are happy to share with others and discuss openly. Thus, you and I both see and can talk openly about this “me” and gain a common view of who I am in this element. 2. The Private Self – there are open part of ourselves that are too private with others. We hide this away and refuse to discuss them with other people or even expose them in any way. 3. The Blind Self – we often assume that the public and private selves are all that we are. However, the views that the others have of us may be different from those we have of ourselves 4. The Undiscover Self – the fourth self is one which neither we nor other people see. This undiscovered self may include both good and bad things that may remain forever undiscovered, entering the private life, blind or maybe even public selves. THE JOHARI WINDOW What you see in me? What you do not see on me? What I see in me? The Public Self The Private Self What I do not see in The Blind Self The Undiscovered Self me?  Able Accepting Adaptable Bold Brave Calm Caring Cheerful Clever Complex Confident Dependable Dignified Energetic Extroverted Friendly Giving Happy Helpful Idealistic Independent Ingenious Intelligent Introverted Kind Knowledgeable Logical Loving Mature Modest Nervous Observant Organized Patient Powerful Proud Quiet Reflective Relaxed Religious Responsive Searching Self-assertive Self-conscious Sensible Sentimental Shy Silly Spontaneous Sympathetic Tense Trustworthy Warm Wise Witty THE FOUR PERSONA Associated with the Johari Window, we can define four different personas, based on the largest self. 1. The Open Persona – someone with an open persona is both very self-aware (with a small blind self). The open persona is usually the most “together” and relaxed of the personas. They are so comfortable with themselves they are not ashamed or troubled with the notion of other people seeing themselves as they really are. What you do What you see in me? not see on me? What I see in me? The Private The Public Self Self What I do not see The Blind Self The in me? Undiscovered Self 2. The Naive Persona – the naïve persona has a large Blind Self that others can see, they thus may make significant social gaffes and not even realize what they have done or how others see them. They hide little of themselves are typically considered as harmless by others, who either treat them in kind, perhaps patronizing ways (go unnoticed) or take unkind advantage of their naivety. What you do What you see in me? not see on me? What I see in me? The Public Self The Private Self What I do not see The in me? Undiscovered Self The Blind Self 3. The Secret Persona – when the person has a large private self, they may appear distant and secretive to others. The talk little about themselves and may spend a significant amount of time ensconced in their own private world. In conversations, they say little and, as a result, may not pay a great deal of attention to others. What you see What you do not see on me? in me? What I see in The Public Self me? The Private Self What I do The Blind Self The Undiscovered Self not see in me?  4. The Mysterious Persona – sometimes people are a mystery to themselves as well as to other people. They act in strange ways and do not notice it. They may be solitary, yet not introverted. As the mysterious persona knows relatively What you see What you do not see on me in me? What I see in The Public Self The Private Self me? What I do The Blind Self not see in me? The Undiscovered Self STRENGTHENING AWARENESS Strengthening self-awareness can lead to: 1. Healing inner blocks so you uncover your authentic self. 2. Effective decision making in life. 3. Creating and environment that better suits your needs. 4. Sustaining a positive change in your life. 5. Focusing your energy and time towards what you really do best. 6. Discovering your true and unlimited potentials. Without self-awareness our thoughts, feeling and behavioral patterns are controlled entirely by unconscious beliefs, assumptions and instincts. When we lack self-awareness, we create our own suffering and perpetuate it in the lives of others, creating endless pain and chaos. However, when we learn to become conscious of our primitive and self-destructive thoughts, beliefs, ideals, assumptions, and choices, we become more peaceful, loving, and intelligent beings. Not only do we stop suffering, but also the people in our lives stop reacting to our self-imposed misery. Instead, they find more peace. The following are self-awareness activities that you will surely benefit, especially if you make a regular habit of doing it. This will help you slowly and steadily find more joy and fulfillment in daily life. 1. Get away from people, be still and don’t do anything – in order to develop self-awareness, it is imperative that you start with an “empty canvas”, and silent solitude is the best place to start. This is because solitude grounds you in reality, and although it can be scary and lonely at first, spending time alone each day provides you the opportunity to reflect on yourself. Solitude realigns us with our deepest needs and cravings in life. 2. Medication and self-inquiry – self inquiry is another brilliant way of increasing your self-awareness as well. Asking question such as, “Why do I feel this way?” “Where did that thought come from?” “Are these assumptions true?” “What triggered that behavior?” are all powerful questions that will deepen your understanding. 3. Keep daily private journal – recording all your thoughts in a safe secure place helps you to not only track your self- growth progress, but this practice also helps you to be more authentic with yourself. When you are honest about thoughts and feelings and when you find a place to express them, they no longer stay bottled up in your mind, which tends to create a lot of tension and stress. TWELVE EXERCISES FOR GREATER SELF-AWARENESS 1. The three (3) why’s – before acting in the decision ask yourself “Why?”. Follow up your response with another “Why?”. And then third, if you can find three good reasons to pursue something you’ll have clarity and be more confident in your actions. Being self-aware means knowing your motives and determining whether they’re reasonable. 2. Expand your emotional vocabulary – emotions create powerful physical and behavioral responses that are more complex than “happy” or “sad”. Putting your feelings into words has a therapeutic effect on your brain; if you’re unable to articulate how you feel, that can create stress. 3. Practice saying “no” to yourself - the ability to say “no” to yourself to put off short-term gain Is an important life- skill. Like a muscle, it is strengthened with exercise. The more you practice saying “no” to small daily challenges, the better you can withstand major temptations (social media, junk food, gossiping). 4. Break visceral reactions – a person without self-awareness runs into auto-pilot, and responds with knee-jerk reactions. Self-awareness allows you to assess situations objectively and rationally without acting biases and stereotypes. 5. Be accountable tour flaws – nobody is perfect, being aware of your flaws, but failing to accept accountability, is leaving the job half-done. Were often critical of others, while ignorant of our owns flaws. Self-awareness helps urn mirror on ourselves and prevents hypocritical behavior. 6. Monitor your self-talk – there is non-stop commentary in our heads that is not always helpful. A little bit of negative self-talk can spiral into stress and depression. Pay attention to the way you respond to your successes and failures. Positive and negative feedback-loop will form in your mind based ff how you respond to success and failures. Being tough on yourself needs to balance with self-compassion. Celebrate your wins, forgive your losses. 7. Improve your body language – watching yourself on video can be cringe-worthy experience, but awareness of your body language, posture, and mannerisms improves your confidence. 8. Play “devil’s advocate” – taking an opposing view forces you to question your assumptions. Your “default” beliefs and worldview are not always reasonable: it is healthy to “argue against yourself” and see how your view hold up. And you’ll give your brain a good workout. Processing challenging information stimulates neural connections. 9. Know your personality type – knowing your personality type allows you to maximize your strengths and manage your weakness, understanding your “strengths” and “talents” can be the difference between a good choice, a great choice. Start with understanding where you fall on the introvert/extrovert spectrum and then conduct personal SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats). 10. Practice self-evaluation and reflection – keep journal and keep your progress. How would you rate your current level of self-awareness out of ten? Set regular goals, break big goals down into smaller milestone. Ask yourself at the end of the day, “What did I do well today?” “How can I improve tomorrow?” 11. Ask for constructive feedback regularly – we all have blind spots in our thinking patterns and behaviors. Asking for regulars constructive feedbacks cuts through any self-deceit or one-dimensional views you might hold. But only ask people you’d consider mentors (those who understand you; whom you respect; and will tell you what you need to hear, not what you want to hear). 12. Meditation – it is a fundamental practice for improving self-awareness. To focus solely on your beathing is to focus on a key internal process. You’ll become aware of how your mind wanders, and get better at snapping out of distractions. Be more aware of who you truly are and what you want. Build your self-awareness to unlock your potentials and sustain positive change in your life.