A Dose of Self-Awareness!

Tomorrow, Mari McCarthy will guest post here and the giveaway for one of her books will begin!  Please visit Mari's website, CREATE WRITE NOW, and check out all the wonderful journaling ideas she offers.  You can also access her blog from there.

This is Mari.  (The picture came from her website).

Today is my first day in Mari's book Peace of Mind & Body 27 Days of Journaling to Health and Happiness.  Day 1 is about awareness and the assignment is to turn to a fresh page in your journal (this is a good way to start journaling if you don't already) and write at the top of the page:  "I am aware that..." then write your response until you feel that you have written all that you can/need to/etc.  OH, and this is the book that I am going to be giving away to a lucky winner!  You will have your choice between an ebook or a print copy!

This is a picture of the book I am working in right now and will be giving away!  (this picture is also from Mari's website)

Self-awareness can not only help us recognize exactly who we are, but it can also be a good way to clear out the negative things that hold us back!

I am going to share with y'all TEN things from Day 1:

I am aware that...

1.  I have selfish tendencies.  Maybe they stem from being an only child for many years or maybe it's just who I am but I can be SELFISH.  I want to watch what I want to watch on television; I want to go where I want to go and do what I want to do; I want things done the way I want them done; etc.  And, most of the time, I do not care to discuss it, I just want it done.  A 'My way or the highway' kind of gal.  I can honestly say that I have come a long way in my attempts at overcoming this selfish nature of mine but, I am not there yet.

2.  I am overweight and that the reason I haven't lost the excess may be due to the fact that I am too lazy or that food is one of the things I use to provide me with happiness.

3.  I am somewhat lazy.  Or a procrastinator.  Or both.  I will do what has to be done, but if I can put something off, it gets put off.  If hard work is involved I may or may not participate.  That is laziness.  Or still being tired from raising four daughters.  Regardless, I know that this is an area that needs improvement.    

4.  Food is one of the things I use to comfort myself and make me happy when people do not.  I am aware that I do this but I am also aware that I am the one responsible for my happiness, not others.  And I'm working on this one too.

5.  I still miss my grandparents.  And they've been gone a really long time.  But they were so awesome and completely understood and showed unconditional love.

6.  I harbor some resentments...and let's just leave that one right there.

7.  I am short tempered.  I will say that this has improved TREMENDOUSLY over the years!  There is still plenty of room for improvement here, but it's so much better than it has ever been.

8.  I hate to judge others but I find myself doing it sometimes anyway.  And I hate that, sometimes, I preface it with something STUPID like, "This isn't judgment but...."  or "I know this is a judgmental statement but..."  I really hate this one more than any of the others.  AND I hate being judged so you would think that I wouldn't do it to others.  I guess I just made myself aware that I am a hypocrite.  DARN this self-awareness crap.

9.  I am on the defensive a lot.  It seems almost constant.  I am unaware of why.

10.  I am overly critical of myself.  I put expectations on myself that no one could reach and then berate myself for failing. 

And there you have it--ten things I'm aware of about myself from a list that covered 3.5 pages of my journal.  

Therapy anyone?