'Wake up to yourself Tony'

 

It's a phrase often repeated to me by my parents as a little boy. Teachers also reminded me that it was something I needed to do. I don't think I was actually an abnormally naughty little boy.

 

It's a strange phrase when you think about it. 'Wake up to yourself' implies that we are asleep to ourselves and that we are not conscious of ourselves.

 

Self-awareness or self-discovery is always empowering even if we don't like what we are discovering.

 

Let me give you an example.

 

If someone is not conscious or aware of their communication skills and that when they talk to others they may talk too much, shut people down and not realise why people try and get away from them. You know.... that person at the party or that friend who is self-absorbed. They are actually not aware of the negative impact they are having. If they did they would change it. Then someone tells them, or they read a book on communication or they attend a communication training program and they become conscious of this. With that new level of consciousness they are then empowered to do something about it.

 

Why are people not conscious?

 

It's a human condition.

 

Our five senses pick up enormous amounts of data every second. More than the conscious mind can handle and It's too much to process; the brain would be in overload. So the brain just files the majority of it away and only makes you conscious of what is new or relevant.

 

Let me give you an example.

 

You put an affirmation up in the bathroom mirror or a new picture on the wall. For some time you notice it but within a short time you no longer see it. Driving a car is another good example. Initially it is a very conscious process but eventually you do it automatically, unconsciously. The process of steering, operating the accelerator and brake are handled by the subconscious.

 

This can happen in all areas of our lives, our relationships, our work, our entire lives can end up on autopilot as the familiar and repetitive things in our lives slowly rock us to sleep. Some people seem to spend their entire lives in a lulled state of non-awareness. Just going through the motions of work, life, weekends.

 

The wake-up call

 

Another familiar expression. 'That was my wake up call' someone says after the partner walks out, they are retrenched, the business collapses, have an accident or diagnosed with a life threatening illness.

 

Do we have to experience tragedy before we can wake up?

 

Not necessarily. I know that with coaching clients this is very much a part of the work we do together. We make them stop! Stop and think consciously about their life, what they want and need to change. Basically, we turn off the autopilot and new levels of self awareness begin to emerge and awaken.

 

With that new consciousness they are empowered to make decisions and choices. They begin living consciously, creating what they want instead of allowing old patterns and conditioning in the subconscious to be the driving force in their lives.

 

What happens when we wake up?

To be continued

Any questions. comments or insights please place them on my facebook wall.

 

Anthony Venn-Brown 

Coach - Author - Speaker

+61 (0)416 015 231

  

 

  

     

 

I came to coaching without really knowing what it'd be like or how it would benefit me. I came because I felt I was stuck in life, and lacked direction. I had things I was passionate about but needed them to be defined and prioritised. Basically, I felt like a jet plane on the tarmac, with engines roaring but no definite destination...and how can a plane take off without knowing where it's going?

 

Coaching launched me into an experience where I was forced to answer deep questions about my self. This wasn't an easy task for me, as I'd mostly been functioning on auto-pilot. I'd never been one to set goals and dream dreams, but I set about the task of doing just that. This was challenging for me, but having someone walking me through the process, and giving suggestions and encouragement along the way, really helped. Discovering my values and beliefs brought clarification to what my purpose is, and gave me the "why" for the things I do. Writing the three letters formulated my future in a way I wouldn't have thought possible. It made goal setting so simple.

 

Now I am able to explain what my values in life are, and how those values reveal to me what my purpose in life is. Writing down my dreams and wishes is an exercise not to be underestimated. I found that, before too long, some of them were being realised. I have grown in motivation, purpose, enthusiasm and I have a desire to excel in life. I now know where I'm heading. I have a destination and my course is mapped out before me. I am a confident person who knows what she wants to achieve.

 

Coaching was more than I could ever have imagined it to be and I'm glad I did the Dare to be Your Best program.

 

Sue Hatcher