“Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.”
Leo Tolstoy
People who have read my book “Bio-Touch: Healing With The Power In Our Fingertips” know that one of the hardest concepts for me to appreciate, despite its importance to the Bio-Touch philosophy, was self-awareness. It made sense to me on an intellectual level, but until I was willing to really embrace its significance, I struggled to see its value in my life.
So what is self-awareness and why is it so important? Self-awareness is taking note of ourselves. When we turn our awareness toward ourselves, we can take a good look at what’s working for us and what isn’t. This can help plant the seeds of change into our subconscious minds, so we can become motivated to do things differently.
The incentive for breaking bad habits, for example, happens when we become aware of the detrimental effects those habits have on us and our future, and realize we won’t be able to have what we want if we don’t stop doing the negative behaviors.
Being present with our bodies and minds can put us on alert. It can bring us important information, such as noticing a shiver down our spine or a gut feeling warning us of an impending threat from a stranger, for example.
Self-awareness is also an important tool of inner renewal— a journey of self discovery helping us understand who we are, how we think, what we feel and how we react to situations. It’s a way we can become intentionally and non-judgmentally aware of our thoughts and actions in the present moment. When we’re in that present moment, for however briefly, we are no longer caught up in the past or worrying about the future.
As I spent more and more time sharing Bio-Touch with others, it became easier for me to turn my attention inward, thereby learning more about myself than ever before. But like most things of value, self-awareness is not a quick-fix solution. It’s a process centered on reconnecting with ourselves (something lost to our fast-paced living) and our place in the interconnected universe.
So, how do I feel about self-awareness now? I absolutely relish how it allows me to witness my “state of being” and course-correct whenever necessary!
