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Self-Awareness
Worksheet to unveil the underpinnings of how you think, feel, and act

The raw understanding of your fundamental nature only happens through reflecting or examining your internal thoughts, emotions, aspirations, milestones, achievements, tendencies, and decisions through intent and a willingness to be honest.    Our digital world provides lots of Q and A’s, but it will not disentangle the answers you need for self-awareness.   You can only find the answers or your defining moments within yourself.  

Exercises and Prompts to get Started

We’ll start with some fundamental questions about your skills, talents, qualities, values, perceptions, and accomplishments/achievements.  This is a process that should not be undertaken erratically. 
In fact, save the questions, because you will need more than one coffee break to truly delve into what makes you tick.  Unless you have done similar exercises your consideration for some prompts could extend over several minutes or even days. 
Take an unhurried approach and give careful thought to the facets of each prompt.  There are no right or popular answers, just the underspinnings of "what makes you" who you are.

Abilities, Talents/Skills

  • What are your greatest abilities, talents or skills?
  • Which of these gives you the greatest sense of pride or satisfaction?

Character Strengths/Traits/Qualities

  • What are your five greatest strengths?  What are character strengths?
  • What do you feel are your two biggest weaknesses?
  • What qualities or traits do you most admire in others?

Values/Ethics

  • What are ten things that are really important to you?
  • What are the three most important things to you?
  • What are the four values that you hold nearest to your heart? 

Perceptions

  • How is the “public you” different from the “private you”?  Private here means the person within yourself, the one you talk to when no one else is around. Public means the person you are when interacting with others.
  • What do you want people to think and say about you?
  • Is it more important to be liked by others or to be yourself?   Explain why?

Accomplishments/Achievements

  • What three things are you most proud of in your life to date?
  • What do you hope to achieve in life?
  • If you could accomplish only one thing before you die, what would it be?

Reflection

  • What is something that represents you (e.g., song, animal, flower, poem, symbol, jewelry, etc.)? Why?
  • What three things would you like to change most about yourself?
  • List three things that you are.

Finish the Sentence

These next prompts help you examine many aspects of your life.  Give each sentence deliberate and careful thought before you respond.  

  • I do my best when . . .
  • I struggle when . . .
  • I am comfortable when . . .
  • I feel stress when . . .
  • I am courageous when . . .
  • One of the most notable things I learned was....
  • I missed a great opportunity when . . .
  • One of my favorite memories is . . .
  • My toughest decisions involve . . .
  • Being myself is hard because . . .
  • I can be myself when . . .
  • I wish I were more . . .
  • I wish I could . . .
  • I wish I would regularly . . .
  • I wish I had . . .
  • I wish I knew . . .
  • I wish I felt . . .
  • I wish I saw . . .
  • I wish I thought . . .
  • Life should be about . . .
  • I am going to make my life about . . .

The Importance of Asking "What" Questions

In the process of completing this worksheet you may identify other questions that are  pertinent to your journey of self-awareness.  Make sure to turn them into “what” questions.  

When we ask “why” we focus on the mistake which opens ourselves to negative, suspicious, or critical thoughts, that can be depressing and unproductive.  Highly self-aware people ask, “What?” because it provides more productive focus on objectives and future goals rather than mistakes.   Asking “what” guides you to recognizing factors that may be outside your control and may not align with your personal values or passions.  This leads to you being able to strategize how to fix situations rather than ruminate on “whoa is me” negatives. 

Who you are at Your Best

Cherish your insights.  The knowledge and awareness of what is most important to you are important reminders of you who you are at your best.  Use this knowledge and insight to inform your decisions moving forward.  Do not be surprised how your answers will likely change over time as you achieve insight, expand your perspective, and develop your mind. 
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