{"id":6232,"date":"2023-03-20T02:05:50","date_gmt":"2023-03-20T06:05:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/theexecutivehappinesscoach.com\/?p=6232"},"modified":"2024-01-11T14:29:13","modified_gmt":"2024-01-11T19:29:13","slug":"act-happy-week-2023-day-1-self-awareness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theexecutivehappinesscoach.com\/2023\/03\/act-happy-week-2023-day-1-self-awareness\/","title":{"rendered":"Act Happy Week 2023, Day 1: Self-Awareness"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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The focus of Act Happy Week is to educate the public about purposeful actions you can take to create chemical shifts in your body and new neural pathways in your brain to support more frequent experience of what we call Positive Emotions. When you \u201cAct Happy\u201d you train your mind\/body\/heart to find Happiness, Calm, and Resilience when you choose to visit them! <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is Day 1 (537 words of content, Reading time ~2.15 minutes)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Act Happy Week has been a thing since 2004, embracing The United Nations\u2019 International Day of Happiness<\/a> on March 20. Every day this week I will offer a new tool or coaching perspective <\/strong>to support you on your journey of Happiness and Leadership. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

My theme this year is Self. Today is about Self-Awareness. In sequence we\u2019ll visit Self-Care, Self-Work, Self-Talk, and Self-Expression.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I. DAY 1: SELF-AWARENESS<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Where Are You Now?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

To plan a journey (figuratively and literally) you must answer two questions: where are you going AND where are you starting?<\/strong> From that place you can review available paths and possibilities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

People who are NOT self-aware can end up stumbling through challenges like a proverbial \u201cbull in a china shop,\u201d creating hurt, chaos, or mistakes not from intent but because they are blind to how they operate in the world. For example, they may lack good listening skills, make criminal promises<\/a>, practice habits that annoy others, or ignore their own anger issues. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Self-awareness does not make you perfect, <\/strong>but as you become more aware of who and what you are in any moment, you increase capacity to make a CHOICE about what you think, feel, or do next. And, if you make a mistake or choose poorly, you are more likely to learn from any situation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Increase Awareness Through Mindfulness<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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mind\u00b7ful\u00b7ness<\/strong>\/\u02c8m\u012bn(d)f(\u0259)ln\u0259s\/ <\/strong>noun. <\/em>1. the quality or state of being conscious or aware of something. 2. a mental state achieved by focusing one’s awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one’s feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Mindfulness is the practice of being present and aware in the moment.<\/strong> By practicing mindfulness, you can learn to quiet your mind, notice yourself and the world around you and make more purposeful choices \u2013 about everything \u2013 the thoughts you\u2019re thinking, the emotions you are feeling, the actions you take. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you behave with intention, you reduce stress and anxiety.<\/strong> This can help you act happy<\/strong> and maintain \u2013 or shift into — a positive attitude, even in challenging situations.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Exercise:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meditation is one form of mindfulness, but for those of us (including me!) who have discovered sitting still for 20 minutes is neither enjoyable nor possible, trust you can build self-awareness in tiny bits as part of your daily activities. Here\u2019s how: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Be. Here. Now. <\/strong>In any busy day, you keep moving forward — every hour, every minute, every moment. A practice of mindfulness invites you to pause and be IN a moment versus passing THROUGH them all. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are seven ideas<\/strong> you can integrate into your life without any special training, location, ambience, or outfit required!<\/p>\n\n\n\n