Today is Friday, so this post is on interpersonal competence.
Recently, I came across a great web site www.selfcreation.com. I particularly liked an article on the site about self awareness. Self awareness is one of the building blocks of interpersonal competence, so I thought I’d post a slightly edited version of the article here.
Awareness is the first step in becoming interpersonally competent. As you grow in self awareness, you will better understand why you feel what you feel, and why you behave as you behave.
That understanding gives you the opportunity and freedom to change those things you’d like to change about yourself and create the life you want. Without fully knowing who you are, self acceptance and interpersonal competence become impossible.
Having clarity about who you are, what you want, and why you want it, empowers you to consciously and actively make those wants a reality. Otherwise, you’ll continue to get caught up in your own internal dramas and unknown beliefs, allowing unknown thought processes to determine your feelings and actions.
Not understanding why you do what you do, and feel what you feel is like going through your life with a stranger's mind. How do you make wise decisions and choices if you don't understand why you want what you want? It's a difficult and chaotic way to live never knowing what this stranger in your body and mind is going to do next.
When we want good information, we turn to the experts. So, who are you going to turn to for information about yourself? Who's the expert? You are.
No friend, therapist, minister, hero, spouse, or parent knows more about you than you. They can't. You live in your skin and mind 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year. Day in and day out. No one’s closer to you than you! The answers are there inside you.
The common sense point here is simple. Self awareness leads to interpersonal competence. Introspection leads to self awareness. Take the time to understand yourself. This will help you understand others better – and make it easier for you to build strong, lasting relationships with them.
As the ancient Chinese philosopher, Lao Tzu said, “Knowing others is wisdom, knowing yourself is enlightenment.”
That’s it for today. Thanks for reading. Log on to my website www.BudBilanich.com for more common sense. Check out my other blog: www.CommonSenseGuy.com for common sense advice on leading people and running a small business.
I’ll see you around the web, and at Alex’s Lemonade Stand.
Bud
PS: Speaking of Alex’s Lemonade Stand – my fundraising page is still open. Please go to www.FirstGiving.com/TheCommonSenseGuy to read Alex’s inspiring story and to donate if you can.
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