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Writer's pictureSabrina Brügmann

7 Steps into self awareness

Self-awareness is about choosing to focus on what we want, building a life that grounds us, and staying present without being confused by external pressures or influences. We can create a foundation for fulfilment and happiness to take charge of our inner world and influence our outer experience.


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Ignore what's not worth your energy

It’s essential to curate what you consume.

Being mindful of what we allow into our experience is key, otherwise, we are letting external influences shape our lives, and basically living by someone else’s rules. This consumption applies to media, conversations, food, and also news intake. The emotions we feel are connected with the information we allow to influence us.

If your daily schedule doesn’t align with the life you aspire to, and you aren’t in control of what you’re doing and when, you’re not in control of your life. When your actions reflect what you value, every day becomes a step closer to that reality. Choose wisely, and filter.

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Improve your focus

Success isn’t a destination; it’s the peace you find by being fully present. By focusing on the moment, you create a calm, clear path that resonates with your goals.

This doesn’t mean you’ll be in a meditative state 24/7. For me, this isn’t possible, so I wouldn’t expect it of anyone. I found that a few meditations a day help me stay grounded, and when I’m not fully peaceful, I try to stay as present as possible and keep reactions minimal.

No reaction would be ideal, but I’m not there yet. I do react to things that feel negative, the key is to shorten that reaction time.

If someone says something I disagree with and I react, I try not to carry it with me all day or share it with everyone I encounter.

I know when to step out and take a deep breath. When I’m present, I stay reactive for a shorter time, and I keep improving day by day. It’s like going to the gym but for emotions.


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Take nothing personally

I know I talk about this a lot, maybe too much, but I’m sure about this subject: everyone has a different perspective on everything. Letting go of others’ judgments opens the door to inner peace. Opinions and expectations can influence us negatively when we seek calmness to make decisions that benefit us.

When I was starting my career as a designer, I got many opinions from family members and friends, even though they weren’t designers. When I moved out of the country, I also faced judgments about my choices. I don’t regret any of those. But I would regret making choices based on others’ judgments rather than following my own call. Even when things get hard, I can navigate them because I know I chose to be where I am. I’m responsible, and I can keep choosing and changing as much as I want.

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Make yourself happy

In The Teachings of Don Juan: A Yaqui Way of Knowledge by Carlos Castaneda, there’s a part I always remember: “Anything is one of a million paths. Therefore you must always keep in mind that a path is only a path; if you feel you should not follow it, you must not stay with it under any conditions"... "Both paths lead nowhere; but one has a heart, the other doesn’t. One makes for a joyful journey; as long as you follow it, you are one with it. The other will make you curse your life. One makes you strong; the other weakens you.”

The path with heart leads to fulfilment. When you make choices based on what truly brings you joy, you’re walking the right path. Only you can determine this because it’s based on how you feel and what aligns with your essence. You’re not supposed to do what everyone else is doing. Imagine if everyone did the same, it wouldn’t be a fun world. Each of us has a path; we have to feel it to follow it and help everything around us expand.

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Remember tour essence

Break free from patterns that don’t serve you. Creating your own experience means shaping your life with intention, staying grounded in your core values to build the life you genuinely want.

If you keep doing the same thing, you’ll keep getting the same results.

There’s not much to think about here: if you want different results, you have to live differently, which may mean letting go of an identity that no longer serves you.

That’s the hardest part because sometimes we hold onto identities created by past experiences or things we saw growing up.

Change begins with the desire to change, the willingness to let go, and the responsibility to shape our habits and perceptions.

Becoming our best version is more than choosing the clothes we wear or crafting a vision boards; it’s built on habits and what you do every day matters.

Fill your days with activities that fit your vision,

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Upgrade your life in private

Not every part of your journey needs to be shared. In fact, I’ve noticed that the less I share, the better the results.

Sharing is caring, but not sharing is precious. Choose wisely whom you tell and what you share. If you need specific input on a subject, choose the right person to talk with, share your progress, and if they have your best interests at heart, you’ll likely see positive results.

Protecting your growth from others' limited perceptions lets you develop on your own terms, uninfluenced by irrelevant opinions.

I say this from a self-care perspective; not everyone is relevant to our growth.

We can filter and choose whom we seek advice from and why. If it’s just about sharing our progress and we encounter negativity, that negativity can actually slow down our progress. Sometimes it’s best to skip that conversation and talk about something else.


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Star over, star late, start again

In my experience, what flows naturally often turns out to be the right choice.

Yet, there are times when pushing through hardships becomes part of the process.

The truth is, not everything is easy.

There have been countless moments in my career when I wanted to quit and just do something else. But now I understand that any worthwhile path has its hard days.

Most days, though, I feel fulfilled, watching my business grow, tracking my own progress as a professional and as a person. Tuning into what feels right and genuine is essential.

There’s a fine line where resilience and clarity intersect, and finding that sweet spot makes the pursuit worthwhile. It’s never too late to make a shift when necessary. I’m a strong believer in second chances, especially the ones we give ourselves. Staying connected with our inner purpose, following the path that has heart, is what brings daily happiness. This kind of life doesn’t just benefit us; it often helps those around us, too.


Self-awareness is a continuous journey that becomes clearer with each step. Stay true to your path, and you’ll create a life filled with purpose, peace, and joy.

 

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