Self-Awareness: In Realization
We often hear that self-awareness is the starting point of any journey. But in reality, awareness can come at any time. It can be sparked by an unexpected experience, a piece of feedback, something we read, or even an intuitive nudge that tells us, this isn’t quite right.
For me, self-awareness didn’t arrive at the beginning of my journey—it arrived in response to the journey itself. In the early years of my entrepreneurial career, I was consuming all the strategies, frameworks, and step-by-step formulas that promised success. They made it seem so simple: Follow this roadmap, and you’ll get the results.
But the more I tried to fit into those processes, the more I felt inadequate. The so-called ‘flow’ never seemed to match my flow. Instead of feeling empowered, I felt like I was doing something wrong. That’s when I had a pivotal moment of self-awareness: Maybe the problem isn’t me. Maybe I just need to do it differently.
The Change Awareness Can Bring
Once I realized this, I stopped trying to force myself into someone else’s structure. Instead, I began evaluating different processes, taking what worked for me, and rearranging them to fit my unique way of working. I didn’t need to follow someone else’s script—I needed to write my own. That shift changed everything. It didn’t mean their process was wrong, and it didn’t mean I was incapable. It simply meant I had to approach success in a way that made sense for me.
Self-Awareness Isn’t a First Step—It’s a Constant Evolution
The old saying goes, hindsight is 20/20, and looking back, I see how many times awareness has reshaped my path. It’s never been about having all the answers before starting—it’s about gaining clarity as I go and allowing that clarity to guide the next move.
For example, when I mentor new photographers, I tell them two things:
You are only going to get out of this what you put into it.
How I do something is my way. You are here to understand the business of photography, and I want to help you cultivate a business you can stand behind. You aren’t meant to do it exactly like me.
I understand this as a mentor, but the knowledge and experience I have can help others make educated decisions about how they want to create success. The goal isn’t to copy—it’s to adapt, evolve, and ultimately build something that works for you.
Tools to Cultivate Self-Awareness
If you find yourself in a moment of realization—where something isn’t clicking, and you need to pivot—here are some tools to help you embrace that awareness and step into your flow:
Journaling with Intention – Self-awareness often begins with the questions we dare to ask ourselves. Instead of searching for the ‘right’ process, try exploring what already feels natural to you. Here are some reflective and action-oriented prompts to guide your awareness: Instead of searching for the ‘right’ process, try exploring what already feels natural to you. Here are some reflective prompts to guide your awareness:
Where am I feeling resistance in my process, and why?
What parts of this journey feel energizing, and what parts feel forced?
What can I adapt to better fit my flow?
Reflective & Insightful Questions:
When do I feel the most in flow and energized by my work?
What past successes felt natural and aligned—what patterns can I see?
What parts of my process feel forced or exhausting, and why?
If I designed my own way of working—without outside pressure—what would it look like?
Where am I following rules that don’t actually serve me?
Action-Oriented & Practical Questions:
If I removed all the ‘shoulds’—how would I approach this instead?
What tools, habits, or rhythms do I naturally turn to when I need to get things done?
If I could build a process that felt exciting, fun, and sustainable—what would be included?
What are the small shifts I could make today that would bring more ease into my workflow?
Where do I need more flexibility in my process, and where do I need more structure?
ThrivFOCUS Tool – Use it to check in with your goals and realign your actions to your vision.
Feedback from Trusted Sources – Sometimes, awareness comes from an outside perspective. Ask someone you trust: What do you see in me that I might not see in myself?
Body Awareness Check – Pay attention to your gut instinct. When something feels off, pause and explore what that discomfort is telling you.
