Healing and Hypnotherapy Volume 4 Issue - 4, 1 October 2019 | Page 24

This is not an exhaustive list. There are WAY more benefits out there. But I
just want to open a little door into the wondrous world of becoming self-
aware.
Signs You Lack Self-Awareness
Are you a self-aware person? Think about this question for a minute.
Developing self-awareness is the foundation of all important life changes and
deep inner work The more self-aware we are, the more we can understand,
accept, and love ourselves. And the more we love ourselves, the more we
can love others. Can you see how this is all connected?
Go through the following self - awareness activities list and choose one
practice that resonates with you. Try it out for one week and see how you
feel. Then, repeat the process!
1. Tune into your body
Your body is one of the most direct ways to connect with your emotions. If
you tend to get lost in your head too much, practice scanning your body.
Search for areas of tension or discomfort and ask, “What is happening here?”
For instance, you might find yourself clenching your fists or jaw and realize
that you’re feeling angry. You might have tense shoulders and realize that
you’re “carrying the weight of the world” on your shoulders. Or you might
even discover that a persistent physical issue you have is connected with a
stressful place or person. Once you have become aware of the issue, you
can then take steps to reduce your stress, anger or sadness.
2. Identify your specific type of “body armor”
Body armoring was a concept developed by psychoanalyst Wilhelm Reich
and came to describe the process of storing traumatic experiences within the
muscles of our bodies. ‘The issue is within the tissue’ in other words. If you
have a certain part of your body that is frequently sore, stiff or full of pain, it is
likely that there’s some kind of trapped or reinforced emotion stuck there. By
paying attention to your body, you will be able to identify your type of body
armouring. Read more about how to explore the emotions hidden in your
muscle tension.