Awareness is a Daily Practice
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Are you wondering how to become more self-aware? I would say it's simpler than most people think. The practice begins by becoming fully present in each moment of your life. As you grow more aware of your thoughts, emotions, and the choices you make, you begin acting in ways that feel more aligned with who you truly are. To me, that's what self-awareness is all about. Self-awareness isn't about becoming perfect or always making the "right" decision. It's about recognizing your patterns, understanding why you respond the way you do, and choosing with greater intention each day.
Now, if you want a more detailed answer I shall describe my observations, and experience with coming into awareness. If you’ve read my previous article ‘Awareness Begins’ then you know it took years for me to reach an understanding of who I was and my purpose. For me, psychedelics became the catalyst that made me question the cycles I kept repeating and opened the door to exploring my inner world. Everyone's journey is different, but that's where mine began. Nonetheless, during those periods where I wasn’t indulging in substances, I was able to continue the teachings I had learned. I began journeying inward, asking difficult questions, and seeking to understand why I thought, felt, and reacted the way I did—not to judge myself, but to learn what it truly meant to be okay. I’ve battled with the negative thoughts, don't get me wrong, and the way forward was continuing to sit with myself—in the silence, in the cold, in the dark—until I became okay with whatever arose in my mind. When you learn that light and dark are just a part of it—that it’s the duality of life, the waves, the ebbs and flows, the pendulum—the cycles. The more I practiced, the more I realized that I wasn't in control of everything, and that not everything needed to be. There was freedom in accepting life's cycles rather than constantly resisting them.
Here are a few practices that helped me cultivate greater self-awareness. You don't need to do them all—start with one and build from there.
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Sit in silence for 30 minutes a day morning and night.
- Observe your thoughts as they flow without attaching meaning or judgement.
- Grounding to help maintain and heal the body.
- Spend intentional time in nature. Watch the birds, the trees, and the rhythm of the world around you.
- Notice the people and situations you encounter. Ask yourself what they may be reflecting back to you.
- Create something. Art, writing, music, movement—creation is often where we discover parts of ourselves we didn't know existed.
I believe that we all are searching for the answers that tell us what’s the best direction to go, or what we need to be doing. When in reality, I've come to believe that many of our experiences are shaped by the way we perceive ourselves and the world around us. Once you’re able to watch your thoughts as they come and go—because they will—the important thing is to not attach any meaning to every single thing that arises. You must work through all of the obstacles that you may not want to—that’s a part of it! Thoughts will continue to come and go—that's what minds do. The practice isn't stopping them; it's learning not to give every thought power over your life. As you continue working through old wounds, painful memories, repeating patterns, grief, and uncertainty, you'll slowly create space for peace to emerge.
Self-awareness isn't a destination that you suddenly arrive at. It's a lifelong practice of paying attention, remaining curious, and choosing to return to yourself, again and again.
And that's where real growth begins.
To Watch: IG Reels & Youtube Videos
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To Listen / Read: Guidance along the way
Continue the Journey
If this resonated with you, here are a few resources that helped shape my perspective and deepen my understanding along the way.