In his book A Man’s Search for Meaning, author Viktor Frankl says “there is a space between stimulus and response. In this space, you will find freedom and growth.” My deep reflection on this quote uncovered true self-awareness. Consider, we are constantly receiving stimulus. I could sit here and right examples of daily stimuli, I’m not, though. If I did, this document would go on for hundreds of pages. However, the point is we are constantly receiving and processing information.
our supercomputer
The human brain is the most powerful computing system in the world. The human brain runs 38 thousand trillion operations per second. We all have access to the world’s most powerful supercomputer. And the point of these processes is to keep us alive. To help prolong survival as long as it could.
Most of these processes are done in the subconscious mind. A deep layer of ingrained mental patterns firing on all cylinders through neuro-connections and synapses transfers. For some, the only time they become conscious, or mindful of who they are or what they’re doing is when these patterns are challenged. When something does not go as planned. At this point, awareness kicks in. Here’s the best part, studies show this happens less than two percent of the time.
regaining access
The good news is we can change this. And we can take actionable steps to become more self-aware. These practical steps include meditation, reflection, exercise, among many others (there’s countless online resources where you could find what works for you). The intent is to slow down your mind when reacting to an external stimulus. Be the observer of your thoughts and emotions. This will help you make better decisions.
Rather than being reactive, you’ll be proactive in how you present yourself to the world. Each situation in life is different. What’s more, each situation requires a different response.
Be a self-aware leader
As leaders, we need to be well-versed. We need to be stern, yet understanding, powerful, yet humble, have discipline habits, yet open to new ideas. And the only way to do this is through developing your self-awareness. Don’t let your mind run on auto-pilot. Be in control of your soul. Taking back control of your mind helps you get control of your life.
As for me, I am passionate about personal development, both in myself and other. More so, this is the foundation for my leadership style. Where many lead by projecting a sense of power, I lead by projecting a desire for growth. A desire to make me and those around me better. To introduce meaning by showing others how we’re contributing to solving problems. Creating a shared vision of constant progression toward a common theme. This is leadership. Bringing people together. A leader influences others to exert maximum effort in pursuit of a pre-determined milestone. At the core of a great leader are self-awareness and skill development. Their excellence fosters excellence in other.