The more energy you expend worrying about yourself, the less energy you have to make a difference in the world.
Self-consciousness drains energy, enjoyment, and effectiveness.
Self-consciousness is your inner voice telling you that people don’t like you, you’re not good enough, or you’re going to screw up.
Self-aware or self-conscious:
Self-awareness is healthy and useful. Self-consciousness is harmful and limiting. The difference is judgement.
Self-awareness notices and responds without condemnation. Self-consciousness is criticism.
Freedom from self-consciousness:
Self-consciousness is mental focus.
Gently shift your attention to something bigger than yourself.
#1. Curiosity.
Curiosity about others is one way to shift from focusing on yourself to serving others.
#2. Focus.
Imagine tasks and responsibilities are screaming children. Let your attention go to the most important child.
Focus on the most important task at hand.
Your inner critic quiets a little when you direct your focus to an important task that’s outside yourself.
#3. Self-awareness.
Notice self-consciousness, but don’t beat yourself down when you do. Say, “Ah, I’m being self-conscious. Where do I want to shift my focus?”
#4. Engage.
Engagement is essential for fulfillment. Self-conscious leaders never enjoy leading because self-consciousness is disengagement.
Engagement and self-consciousness don’t coexist. As self-consciousness goes up, engagement goes down. How can you DO something meaningful? Why is it meaningful?
Self-forgetfulness is part of making a difference in the world.
How does self-consciousness hold back leaders?
How might people overcome self-consciousness?
Making the Most of Dissatisfaction
