Have you ever spent time with family and found yourself reflecting on the words of Ram Das: “If you think you're enlightened, spend a week with your family”? That sentiment hit home for me over the recent Easter weekend.

On the second day of our family gathering, a comment from my sister triggered me. It struck at one of my core values, causing discomfort. However, that discomfort led to a profound conversation—one that unearthed not only blind spots but also fostered a deeper understanding of each other and the diverse lenses through which we view the world.

Carl Jung once wisely remarked, "Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves." Such moments of friction or discomfort can be transformative if we are willing to lean in with an open heart and mind and treat these moments as an opportunity to uncover another layer of ourselves.

We all live inside our blind spots. To build awareness we need to be open to enlisting people (family, colleagues, coaches or therapists) to hold up the mirror so we can see aspects of ourselves that were previously in the shadows.

According to Positive Psychology, self-awareness is the ability to see oneself clearly and objectively through reflection and introspection. Through self-awareness, we cultivate greater compassion, empathy, and understanding towards ourselves and others.

Developing self-awareness is a multifaceted journey. It requires both internal reflection and external feedback. We need the courage to engage in introspection, but we also benefit from the perspectives, guidance and feedback from others.

In a video I recently shared, I delve into the four self-awareness archetypes, a framework by Tasha Eurich that sheds light on different pathways to self-discovery.

Where is your growth edge when if comes to Self Awareness? 

Tune in to our next blog where I share Powerful Ways to Build Your Self Awareness Muscle.