​To look at ourselves honestly and gently we need self-awareness. What exactly is self-awareness? Of course it is to be aware of oneself in our thoughts, words and actions. But the principle concept here in looking at ourselves honestly and gently, is to examine and observe our mental and emotional process’ without judgment.

This teaching will include: 1. Meaning of self-awareness. 2. Convey why self-awareness is so important to santosha. 3. Give examples of areas of self-awareness that maybe we did not think we had control over. 4. Discuss ways to become more self-aware. 5. What hinders our ability to be self-aware 6. Realize the benefits of Practicing self-awareness.

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What is self-awareness? Textbook definition of self-awareness is ‘the ability to introspect or examine, and be aware of your thoughts, feelings, impulses, behaviors and your personality without judgment.’

The most important part of that definition is the word non-judgment. If you are aware of your feelings on a particular subject or event but instead of just noticing without judgment, you get down on yourself for having these feelings, then it is no longer self-awareness; rather it is you being conscious of your feelings when this event occurs.

‘Self-awareness is the ability to take an honest look at your life without any attachment to it being right or wrong, good or bad.’ ~Debbie Ford

Lets give an example: Pam is over weight and has chronic pain in her joints. Her doctor has recommended she quit eating sugary treats. But everyday that she has a stressful day at work, she comes home and reaches for a sweet treat the minute she walks in the door. Most days she realizes she should not be eating these treats and then she feels shameful, weak and unhappy with herself. She is conscious that she is eating sugary treats even though they are harmful for her health. She is self-conscious about eating treats that are not good for her health. Then one day she realizes that the days she comes home and eats these sugary treats are the days when her job has demanded too much from her and she gets way stressed out. She has a moment of self-awareness. She then contemplates on how she can set more boundaries at her work place so that she doesn’t get so stressed out.

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Why is Self-awareness so important?

• Self-awareness is fundamental to spiritual growth, healing and maturity! It is key to seeing our karma so that we know how to soften our karma.

‘I think self-awareness is probably the most important thing towards being a champion.’ ~ Billie Jean King

• Self-awareness is the precursor to self-acceptance. When the judgment leaves we can see more clearly that it is really the inner mind stuff that constricts us. It is just mind stuff. It is not who we are. And once we accept our karma, proclivities and challenges, we can heal and find compassion for our journey. This is Santosha :) Lack of self-awareness results in living an emotionally driven life full of unconscious habits, addictions, constrictions and impulsive behavior.

‘Self-awareness is the greatest agent for change.’ ~ Eckhart Tolle

• Self-awareness enhances our ability to have compassion for ourselves and others.

• Self-awareness leads to a realization to the True Nature of self which leads to a realization of capital S Self.

‘To know a drop of water is to know the ocean.’ ~ Goswami Kriyananda

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Examples of things that when we are self aware of them, they can help us live a life of Santosha:

• SA of foods that make you feel satisfied, calm and clear verses foods that make you feel hungry, hyper and dull.

• SA of what types of activities feed you when you are feeling depleted of energy. Or what people to be around when you need a true friend.

• SA of what triggers self sabotage behaviors. When do you feel most down about yourself?

• SA of your habits, your beliefs, your goals and dreams, your fears, your triggers. All these things form your personality. Does your personality match who you really are?

• SA of what people you feel happy and content around, and those people that you lose yourself around or those people who bring you down.

• SA of when you are emoting verses seeing things as they through a clear and non-judgmental lens.

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How to become more self-aware:

• Tune into your body. Hatha Yoga. All emotions are felt in the body. When your belly is hurting, tune into what is happening in your inner life. When you are meditating in the heart center and there is sadness, what beliefs or trauma brought you sadness.

‘There’s a mess inside you: You clean the outside.’ ~ The Dhamapada

• Mindfulness practice. When you are mindful, you are more tuned into what is happening in the moment. A mindfulness practice spills out into our everyday life.

• Self-study and reflection through astrology (natal chart and transits), vipassana meditation (watching our thoughts), art and journaling.

• Tarka; yogic reflection and analysis. What happened today and how did I respond internally; how did I respond externally. 

• Recording your emotional state through the cycles of the moon. The moon is our emotional state and our changeability. When the moon moves through the signs (every 2.5 days) we respond to life according to the energy of the signs and also how they aspect your natal moon.

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What hinders our ability to be self-aware:

• EGO: Identifying with our Ego. We have an image to keep up, whether it is a positive image, a victim image, or a ‘I am strong’ image. We think we are our ego self only. We are asleep to the realization that we are a spiritual being here to learn, experience, heal, grow, and mature. We forget that we are connected to something bigger than ourselves that is affected by all our thoughts words and deeds. Our ego holds us in a false assumption that says we are separate from others and that they are wrong and we are right or that they are harmful and we are a victim of that meanness. We just ‘play the role’ that was dealt to us.

• Auto Pilot! How much of your life is run on autopilot? For most people it is more than 50%. when we are on auto pilot we are not mindful. How many times does your car drive the same route to work and back home without even having to be aware at what street you are on? How many times do you respond to a family member the exact same why in response to theThere is no self-awareness in moving through life on autopilot.

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Benefits of practicing self-awareness:

• You learn about yourself and through what lens you see the world and your life. You become aware of your triggers, your attitudes and your emotions. Without judgment you begin to find deep acceptance for your place in the world and for your healing journey in this incarnation.

• Self acceptance brings in an inner peace that your journey is as it should be to heal the karma you were brought into the world with. With this self-acceptance, a new found sense of self-love and contentment fills your days.

• With this self-love you are more empowered to be your authentic self and find happiness in being you with all your challenges and your blessings. You begin to be self-supportive rather than self-sabotaging. You begin to have faith in the synchronicities that guide you to live your dreams and goals.

• Judge others less. No competition with others. More compassion for another’s karma. More acceptance and tolerance for others. More compassion, more love!! More self-mastery!

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'In the light of calm and steady self-awareness, inner energies wake up and work miracles without any effort on your part.'

~ Nisargadatta Maharaj

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Om shanti, shanti, shantih

Aham Brahmasmi

May Santosha be yours in an endless stream of happiness! ~ Swami Ikshamananada