Even with the best laid plans, we might encounter situations where we hold ourselves back from achieving our goals, or sometimes just get in our own way.
Perhaps they are new experiences that take us out of our comfort zone? My clients have told me about past situations where their inertia or indecisiveness led to missed opportunities. Others have described instances when not asking for help (even when they felt completely overwhelmed) led to burnout or even antagonistic relationships. On many of these occasions, my clients were initially unaware how their attitudes or beliefs would impact their desired outcomes.
You know I believe in helping you adopt a POSITIVE, PRACTICAL and STRATEGIC mindset to realize your best self and be more fulfilled. One self-awareness tool I’ve used with clients to help them anticipate “blind spots” is the “Johari Window Model,” developed by American psychologists Joseph Luft and Harry Ingham. You can use this simple tool to think about different aspects of yourself – such as your attitudes, behaviors, habits, passions, skills, or values – and explore how they can help (or hinder) your ability to fulfill your intentions. The four components of the model are described below:
- Known Self: Things you know about yourself and others know about you
- Blind Spot: Things others know about you that you don’t know about yourself
- Hidden Self: Things you know about yourself that others don’t know about you
- Unknown Self: Things neither you nor others know about you
As you review the model, use the questions below to dig more deeply into the four aspects and contemplate how they might relate to fulfilling your key intentions:
What aspects of your Known Self will help you fulfill your intentions? (Think of attitudes, behaviors, habits, passions, skills, or values that inspire and motivate you.)
- _______________________________
- _______________________________
What are potential Blind Spots that could get in the way of fulfilling your intentions? (Think of unexpected feedback on attitudes, behaviors, habits, and skills you have received from family, friends, colleagues or other people in your circle.)
- _______________________________
- _______________________________
What aspects of your Hidden Self could get in the way of fulfilling your intentions? (Think of attitudes, behaviors, habits, passions, skills, or values that you may be reluctant to discuss or share.)
- _______________________________
- _______________________________
What “Unknown” aspects could help fulfill your intentions? (Think of new situations that could launch you out of your comfort zone and surface new attitudes, behaviors, habits, passions, skills, or values.)
- _________________________________
- _________________________________
Next, are some ideas and activities to help you envision your future.
This excerpt was used with permission from the eBook Focus on Your Vision.
Colette Ellis is an author, executive coach, and motivational speaker who empowers clients to get “instep” with their health so they can focus on what’s most important. Her book, Focus on Your Vision, presents an easy, 4-step process to help readers achieve greater work-life balance. With over 10 years experience helping visionaries deal with change, she creates a safe space for clients to explore new opportunities without compromising their values. She is certified in 7 Habits of Highly Effective People®, FOCUS: Achieving Your Highest Priorities, and Coping with Work & Family Stress™, a research-based wellness curriculum.
As founder of InStep Consulting, Colette guides entrepreneurs, executives, and future leaders to transform their lives and realize results faster through insightful coaching and interactive seminars on leadership and personal wellness. A featured eHow.com contributor on Workplace Morale, her tips and advice have appeared in Real Simple Magazine and online at CBSNews.com and CNN.com.
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