“The level of a person’s development affects how their preferences (inborn gifts) are muted, amplified, limited or leveraged.  The higher level of consciousness and awareness a person attains, the greater their ability to transcend their unconscious scripts.”                                 Mike Jay, COACH2 – The Bottom Line

The first step in the Universal Growth Process is Awareness.  What is awareness?  How do you define it? 

The first place I look for understanding is Merriam-Webster’s dictionary.  (OK, here’s your first awareness quiz: how many think Merriam Webster was a very smart female who published a famous dictionary?) 

Aware-ness (noun): having or showing realization, perception, or knowledge.

Sounds reasonable, doesn’t it?  When you are aware, you realize something, perceive something or have knowledge of something.  But, now, look at the synonyms listed under the term of awareness, and you will begin to understand what the word awareness means in the context coaching, personal or professional development, which begins with awareness of self.

Synonyms: alive, conscious, cognizant, mindful, sensible.

When leaders ask me what I do for clients, I often say, I help them “become conscious” of what they are doing so they can choose to adapt if what they are doing is not the right action for a given situation.  Becoming conscious or mindful is a process though that evolves over time, but as a person grows in their understanding of self, they become more alive.  It’s a natural and wonderful process to watch!