Why Self-Awareness Alone Isn’t Enough.
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It’s a powerful moment when someone realizes:
“Oh. I do this. I shut down in conflict.”
“I go into fix-it mode the second there’s tension.”
“I perform confidence even when I feel totally disconnected.”
Awareness is essential. It’s the beginning of change.
But self-awareness alone doesn’t create transformation.
It doesn’t rewrite patterns.
It doesn’t build the capacity to respond differently when it matters most.
For that, we need practice.
Think of it like strength training at the gym.
Your daily centering or grounding practice? That’s the gym.
That’s where you build the muscle of presence—reconnecting to your breath, your body, your aliveness.
You’re not in a conflict. No one’s pushing your buttons. But you’re training anyway—with the low-level triggers of boredom, a long to-do list, or everyday distractions.
Then come the middle-of-the-road moments:
A tense conversation at work.
A last-minute interference with your plans.
The email that hits your ego just a little too hard.
These are your lighter weights.
You notice the pattern start to fire.
And you experiment: pause, breathe, choose a different response.
It’s hard. But you can lift it—because you’ve been building capacity quietly, on your own.
And slowly, you build the strength to handle the heavier weight—
The feedback that would’ve wrecked your week.
The conflict that used to spin you out of control.
The relational crisis that once felt impossible to handle with presence.
Integration means moving from “I know my pattern” to “I can feel the impulse—and choose something new.”
That shift isn’t instant.
It’s not just about insight.
It’s about capacity.
And capacity is built through practice.
So if you’re noticing your old pattern again—great. That’s step one.
Now ask yourself: How am I training for the life I want to lead?
Just like a personal trainer helps you build physical strength, a development coach helps you build the muscles of presence, resilience, and relational leadership.
I’ve been “in the gym” for almost two decades—personally and professionally. If you're ready to train, I'm here for you.
