Happiness is a state of mind that everyone wants to be in, but not everyone attains this state. Some people think that happiness depends on external factors, such as wealth, fame, or success. However, these things are not enough to make us truly happy. Happiness comes from within, and it is influenced by our self-awareness.

Self-awareness is a human skill to recognize and understand our own emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. It helps us to know ourselves better, to accept ourselves as we are, and to change what we want to improve. Self-awareness also helps us to connect to others in a more human centric way, to empathize with their feelings, and to communicate effectively.

Most of us assume ourselves to be self-aware, but in reality, very few are. A Harvard research confirms that only 10 to 15 per cent of the people are really self-aware. Being self-aware means having a clear and precise view of your own values, passions, goals, reactions, strengths, weaknesses, and impact of all these on others.

Why self-awareness and happiness  is so important?

Success and happiness on both personal and professional fronts requires an adequate amount of self-awareness. We are more self-assured and inventive when we are aware of who we are. With being self-aware we can make better judgments, our relationships flourish and we gain control over our internal and external arenas. We have lesser chances to betray others or ourselves. We become a better version of ourselves with high productivity in the professional as well as in the personal domain. We become happier and take better decisions as leaders.

Types of self-awareness

Self-awareness is not simple and it has two sides as a coin has. The two types can be classified as internal and external. Internal self-awareness is about understanding your own thoughts, feelings, preferences, and motivations. On the other hand External self-awareness is about understanding how others see you and how you affect them. Both types are significant, but they are not always aligned. For example, you may think that you are a great listener, but others may disagree. Or you may believe that you are assertive, but others may perceive you as aggressive.

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How to nurture self-awareness and happiness ?

To harness it further, we need to use different strategies for each type of self-awareness. For internal self-awareness, introspection is not enough. You also need to test your assumptions and seek feedback from others. For external self-awareness, asking for feedback is not enough. You also need to be open-minded and willing to change your behavior based on the feedback. But in both the types of self-awareness “CHANGE is the game changer”.

The 5 Secrets to be self-aware

1- Improve your internal self-awareness: Keep a journal of your thoughts and feelings. Write down what you want to achieve, what makes you happy or unhappy, what triggers your emotions, and what you can do to improve your situation.

2- Improve your external self-awareness: Ask for feedback from people who know you well and who will be honest with you. Ask them specific questions about your strengths and weaknesses, your communication style, and your impact on others.

3- Align your internal and external self-awareness: compare your self-perception with the feedback you receive. Identify any gaps or discrepancies and try to understand why they exist. Then take action to close the gaps or resolve the discrepancies by changing your behavior or communicating more clearly.

4-Testing the internal and external self-awareness levels: Take personality tests or assessments that can reveal your preferences, styles, and tendencies. This can help to discover more about oneself and how we interact with others.

5-Cultivate a daily habit: Anything we do on a regular basis becomes our habit. To stay self-aware, meditate or practice mindfulness more often. This creates an awareness of the present moment. This can help to calm our mind and help a great way to create harmony between our sensations, emotions, thoughts and our belief system. Harmony is the key to be happy in life, being self-aware.

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Happiness is not something that we can buy or achieve from outside. Happiness is something that we can cultivate from inside. By increasing our self-awareness, we can discover what makes us happy, what matters to us, and what gives us joy. We can then live a life that is in harmony with our true self and our true happiness.

By knowing oneself better and aligning our self-perception with reality, we will be able to achieve more happiness and success in our personal and professional life. We will not be blind with your perceptions and assumptions, rather we will be more aware, and this awareness will add wings to our happiness in life.

For more ways to be self-aware & happy take a look at the chapters of the Get Set Go Happy !

“Discovering Happiness out of anything in life”.

On your Marks Get Set Go Happy!

Food is the fuel for our body and mind. A healthy body and mind boost our happiness. By taking good food regularly, you can support your brain’s production of happy hormones and improve your mood naturally. And who in this world do not want to be happy ?

Here are the 10 best foods which can help us making happy.

Dark chocolates

Dark chocolates are not only loved for its unique taste .These contains antioxidants that can help improve mood and cognitive function. The neurotransmitter called serotonin is present in it which regulates our mood.

Bananas

Banana is a good ready to eat fruit and can be grabbed for any occasions . Apart from the same banana is a great source for mineral & vitamins like potassium, vitamin B6, and magnesium. These nutrients are all important for mood regulation.

Oily fish

Oily fishes are most loved fishes in the world . These types of fishes, like salmon, tuna etc. are great source of omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to reduce inflammation and improve mood.

Yogurt

Who do not love yogurt ? We all know that it is a natural source of probiotics; these are helpful bacteria that live in our gut. And a healthy gut is required for a good mood and better mental health.

Berries

Berries are available in splendid colors of nature like Blue, Black, Red, Purple and many more  , these are full of antioxidants, and help us to protect the brain damage in human beings. They are also a good source of fiber, which can help regulate blood sugar and mood.

Olive oil

The most favorite oil for pizza lovers , Olive oil is a healthy fat that can help improve heart health and cognitive function. It also contains antioxidants that can help protect the brain from damage.

Walnuts

The nut with a hard surface but soft kernel, walnuts are a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, as well as vitamin E and magnesium. These nutrients have all been linked to improved mood.

Flaxseed

Flaxseed is not used very often now a days in the day today use , but it is a alternate source of omega-3 fatty acids and fiber for vegetarians. It is also a good source of lignans, which are plant compounds that have been shown to have mood-boosting effects.

Spinach

The most soft and greenly leaves , Spinach is a good source of folate, magnesium, and vitamin C. These nutrients have all been linked to improved mood.

Lentils

Lentils are a good source of protein, fiber, and iron. These nutrients are all important for overall health and well-being, which can contribute to happiness.

These foods when added to your regular food chart can have substantial impact on our happiness. Along with good food one can also try other natural ways to boost your happiness levels, such as exercising, meditating, spending time with loved ones, or doing something you enjoy.

Remember that happiness is not something that happens to you, but something that you create for yourself. By eating well, taking care of yourself, and being grateful for what you have, you can increase your happiness and well-being.

Learn how to discover happiness in life with simple steps that can be applied to our day to day life in the book GET SET GO HAPPY and make happiness a contagious affair.

On Your Marks GET SET GO HAPPY !!

Join the Happiness club at www.getsetgohapy.in

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