Last week I asked my readers of this blog to share some one-line suggestions for increasing one’s self awareness. My purpose is to get ideas of prompts to include in a journal on self-awareness. The journal will be used in conjunction with my book, Self-Aware: A Guide for Success in Work and Life, in my class at the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan.
Since there were so many great ideas suggested, and today’s post I’d like to share them with you. If you are so inspired, please add your own. For everyone who participates I will send them one of the journals when they are already in the fall.
- Rate yourself 1 to 10 on some key performance elements and ask your supervisor or friend to do the same. Don’t compare notes before preparing, compare after both have prepped and see if you can explain the difference
- What’s the best thing I have done in the last month, six months, and year?
- Describe a great day. How else can you have them if you don’t explain what it includes
- Am I ready to mentor someone else?
- Meditation – ask yourself, “Who am I, what do I want?” Do it over and over, clearing your mind and thinking of nothing else. It’s a great way to find out about yourself and what your gifts are
- Make a list of your goals and priorities, writing out what is important to you
- Think about what makes you happy. How can you be happy if you don’t know what makes you happy?
- Make a list of “Lessons Learned”. It’s a great way of reflecting on things you’ve done wrong, and learned from. Poor decision making is not always intentional but can have the same outcome. An additional step would be to list the persons who were affected by your poor decisions. This confirms that all decisions, good or bad, impact more than just yourself. This makes you more aware of the decisions you make as you go through life
- Take the Four Tendencies quiz to learn more about yourself and others
- Take the time to walk somewhere instead of a car or bus and what did you experience?
- Read something you find inspirational and write down what it means to you and why it is important
- Look for the opportunity today to dialog with a stranger who does not look like you
- Ask a classmate how can I help you this week?
- Keep track of everything you eat and drink today
- Give thought or prayer for leaders you admire. Think about what you would like to share with them
- What were your worries and fears at this time last year? What are they now?
- Go in a building or business you have never been before and observe
- Draw a cartoon or picture on the journal today representing anything you choose
- Reflect, and then write down, what you want as your professional and personal epitaph
- Make an effort to help someone with even a simple task everyday, i.e., holding a door, picking up a book, holding a chair
- Read a newspaper or listen to a news report everyday
- Find an interesting fact about a local business, google it
- Call your mom, dad or sibling to see how they are doing
- Say “hi” to or smile at a student you don’t know
- Be strong enough and proud to say “no” if something doesn’t seem right
- Write your plan for tomorrow and review it the day after tomorrow
- Drive will take you anywhere you want to go, don’t forget to enjoy the ride!
- What movie affected you to the point of influencing your life and why?
- Name a memorable experience with each parent
- What myth do you relate to in your life?
- What would you write in your own eulogy?
I would like to thank the people who contributed – Bill Hermann, Steve Angerman, Kendra Theriot, Debbie Kenyon, Lisa Barry, Gale Amyx, Audrey Colbath, James Woolliscroft, Steven Samuels, Cheryl Chodun, Philip Elkus, and Diane Winner. Thank you for your contributions and please keep sending ideas.
If you respond with suggestions in the next 48 hours, I will send you an eBook version of Self-Aware: A Guide for Success in Work and Life.