By This is what I’ve noticed over the years. People who say they are “socially aware” don’t necessarily know what “socially aware” means.
So what is socially aware? I always thought it meant being aware of your own actions and thoughts. That’s what social awareness is but I’ve been told it’s only about your actions.
Social awareness is one of those words that is used to refer to two different things. Its used to describe what you do with your own actions and your own thoughts. And by its use, I mean there is a difference between what is socially aware and what is socially aware of its actions and its thoughts. In other words, it is not the same.
The first time I heard the word social awareness, I was in a class and was so confused. I was used to use social awareness to define what you do with your actions. I was using it to say “I am aware of my own actions”. Because I was aware of my own actions, I knew that my actions were socially aware.
But what about when I use it as a term to define my own thoughts and beliefs? That is the problem. Now it is true that if you are a person with social awareness, you are aware of your thoughts and beliefs, and you are aware of your actions. But there is a big difference between what you are aware of and what you are aware of your thoughts.
While awareness of your thoughts is important, awareness of your actions is critical to social awareness. If you are on auto-pilot and don’t think about your actions you can forget you are on auto-pilot. If you don’t think about your actions, you have no idea what you’re doing. You might see something you don’t want to do but you don’t care.
The best way to get a clearer view of your mental state is to put it into words. If you dont write down what you think, you are not aware of it. If you dont write down what you are aware of, you will not be able to identify your thoughts. When you write down what you are aware of, you are aware of your thought process. When you are aware of your thoughts, you will be aware of your action, your reaction, your decision.
For a while, I kept a journal and wrote down what was on my mind. I have since stopped, but I have always taken my journal with me. Even in the midst of work, I take my journal to my desk. I have a few blank pages in it. I keep a few in my wallet as well and a few in my pocket. I can look through it and take notes, but I dont write it down. I just think about it and decide.
When you take your journal with you, you don’t consciously think about it. You don’t have to. But you do have to write it down. It’s just part of the process.
Like most writers, I am a bit of an introvert. I can’t help but be quiet when I’m in public. But I’m usually not the one sitting alone in a room, reading a book. But I’m usually the one sitting alone in a room with a book.
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