Self-Awareness: Your Journey to Meet Yourself (Part II)

What Do We Do With Self-Awareness?

The next step is, what do I do with this thing called awareness?

Now that we know what self-awareness is, or rather, we know how self-awareness works, what do we do with it?

In Buddhist chanting, you learn the practice of being in the moment. The exercise of chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo is so precise that it teaches you that life is mysterious and your destiny is never fixed. You change, your choices change, and your destiny changes. The key to this is self-awareness. It is the ability to function from a state of awareness at any given point in time.

The thought then arises: how do we change destiny? How do we change the outcome of our lives from where we see it?

The answer is to live every moment with curiosity and awareness of the emotion you are experiencing.

It is not enough to just be self-aware. With self-awareness comes wisdom, courage, discernment, knowing that we need to change, or acknowledging, having the honesty to want to transmute that which is an obstacle within ourselves. It tells you, this may be the reason for my pain, yet you ignore it, for acknowledging any emotion takes courage.

Let's move through what to do when you arrive at self-awareness's door.

Step 1: Name Your Emotion

Step 1 – Who is there?

Name your emotion.

What are you currently feeling? Can you name it?

Anger. Sadness. Jealousy. Desperation. Love. Angst. Irritation. Joy. Wishfulness. Impulsiveness. Terror. Frustration. Helplessness. Intolerance.

What is it that defines this moment? What do you feel?

A lot of times we cannot label what we are feeling, so we stop thinking. We become confused, and in that confusion, we invent theories.

Thus, the first step is to understand the alphabet of the emotions you are feeling before you string them together into words.

Feel them.

Have the truth, the humility, and the honesty to understand and acknowledge them.

Step 2: Ask Yourself Why

Step 2 – Why are you here?

You have arrived, and you have labelled the emotion.

Now ask yourself...

Why?

Why is a very integral part of growing up and growing through any experience.

Why means you have given yourself permission to be honest with yourself, and you are brave enough to hear the answer.

Nobody runs away from questions.

We run away from the answers.

We don't want to answer because we know we may not have the courage to follow through. So we wear blinkers in the hope that time will help us by changing our circumstances.

Sadly, it doesn't.

Step 3: Turn Awareness Into Action

Step 3 – Act

If we acknowledge the what and the why of our emotions and ignore the next step, then the point of self-awareness is lost.

The most crucial step after the why is action.

We need to act on the what and the why.

We need to make the necessary changes in our emotional makeup to facilitate change.

I knew I was desperate.

There were people dependent upon me. I had to feed them. I had responsibilities. The fear of not being able to take care of them became so overwhelming that I ignored the warning signs the whys were showing me.

I partnered with the wrong person.

A year later, I suffered the consequences.

Why Action Changes Your Destiny

In hindsight, I wish I had the courage to take a breath and say,

Stop.

Have faith.

You will survive.

Even if you fail.

At least the step you have taken to change your destiny has been made.

Thus, what you do with self-awareness is lost if you don't give yourself permission to fail.

Learning Through Failure

So fail.

And fail some more.

Until you learn to fly.

Because at some point, when you begin exercising your whys enough, the act becomes more meaningful and glorious. That is when you look ahead and see a life that is more fulfilling and transformed than the one you would have lived had you not made the brave choice of acknowledging your truth and acting on it.

A Weekly Essay by,
Shwetambari

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do after becoming self-aware?

The next step is action. Self-awareness becomes meaningful when you identify your emotions, understand why they exist, and make conscious choices based on those insights.

Why is naming emotions important?

Naming emotions helps you understand your internal experiences more clearly. It is often the first step toward emotional regulation and healthier decision-making.

How can self-awareness improve my life?

Self-awareness allows you to recognise patterns in your thoughts, emotions, and behaviours, helping you make better decisions, build stronger relationships, and grow personally.

What is the connection between self-awareness and mindfulness?

Mindfulness strengthens self-awareness by encouraging you to observe your thoughts and emotions without judgment, making it easier to respond thoughtfully instead of reacting automatically.

Can self-awareness help me overcome fear?

Yes. Self-awareness helps you understand the root of fear, allowing you to face challenges with greater clarity, courage, and resilience.

Why is taking action important in personal growth?

Awareness without action rarely creates change. Personal growth happens when you use your insights to make intentional choices, embrace challenges, and learn from your experiences.