By Francis Sequeira (Guest Writer)
Every engine has a self-starter, which starts the engine. Mind also has a self-starter which motivates the self. The self-starter will turn on the Mind, but what will turn on the self-starter of the mind. This leads us to self-awareness, which gives the much needed power to kick-start the mind. If the self-starter is not activated, the mind procrastinates and lapses into negativity. Such persons have a large number of excuses to rationalise their inefficacy, inability and inertia. They slog for pennies and prefer to live in indigence, indolence and inadequacy. Self-awareness sets the ball rolling through self-insight, self-inspiration and self-improvement.
Our personality is moulded by undiscerning, unruly, uncanny people around us who unduly impose, induce and inject negative suggestions in our tender, gullible mind. We all have the potential within us to shine out as stars, but only a few bring out the best within them, who become aware of their creative thinking to positively look ahead, their core talents and skills to achieve their cherished goals and the enthusiastic, emotional thrust empowering their will and driving them ahead in life with zeal and passion.
Self-awareness should not be mistaken for self-criticism, self-rejection and self-put-down- it is just the opposite. Self-awareness opens one’s eyes to one’s inner strengths which enables one to overcome weaknesses, lacks and anxieties. It boosts the self-image with positive self-perception. It enhances self-esteem with powerful self-confidence. A mountaineer cannot take the risk with borrowed confidence as in the case of sportsmen, who are cheered by glamorous girls. Besides honing mountaineering skills it also imperatively calls for colossal confidence to challenge Mount Everest. This capable and conducive state-of-mind took Sir Edmund Hillary along with Sherpa Tenzing to conquer the highest peak for the first time notwithstanding untimely uncertainties.
Self-awareness liberates one from one’s past and enables one to change the present and challenge the future. It frees the mind from habitual negative thinking. Knowing one’s likes and dislikes helps one to become a better person. Understanding of one’s potential builds a towering I-Can-Competence, which nobody can destroy. The mind focuses on realistic time-bound goals. This essentially attracts success and concomitant prosperity.
Self-hate results in self-rejection, which leads to self-condemnation. One need not compare oneself with others, who are definitely different and differentially defined. There is no need for anyone to be like others and the others have no right to judge anyone. Self-acceptance starts with the awareness that “I am unique, who I am” and not what others think I am. This makes one independent as one is no long dependent on others’ acceptance or approval. This mind-set empowers success-oriented self-belief, engenders sensible self-love, exalts sublime self-esteem, and expresses empathy with esteem for others.
It removes negativity from the recesses of the mind and replaces it with hope, happiness and healthy habits. It fills the mind with the “feel-good” feeling at all times, thus one is never upset but set-up with life. Self-acceptance means embracing oneself, despite shortcomings and failures. One no longer discounts, diminishes or dismisses oneself. Thomas Edison accepted himself despite repeated failures which led to the invention of the light bulb. This positive mental state-of-affairs leads to self-advancement in life.
The self-empowered mind hopes for the best looking out for practical possibilities and forming achievable goals. One who dares to dream big, think big wakes up and tries to do something to make it big. This is the secret of success of all successful entrepreneurs, industrialists, leaders and celebrities, who have cast away the burdens of the past and sincerely striven to attract success.
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