How We Can Harness the Power of Self-Awareness 

Few of us can genuinely say we are living the life we have always imagined. We might be having difficulty making a bold move in our careers. We may be having difficulties in our personal relationships. While there are no easy answers, self-awareness is essential for a meaningful life.

The better we understand ourselves the easier it is to know how to develop the skills we need to have a fantastic life. Understanding why we fear rejection, become addicted or struggle to establish friendships as adults are all indicators of self-awareness. Understanding our own psychology can help us make better decisions in all areas of our lives. 

Understanding Why We Fear Rejection 

When we reflect, most of us can see we fear rejection and that this fear limits our lives. We may decide not to attend a fun event or apply for a promotion out of fear of being rejected. We believe it is better to never have tried than to be rejected by others. Various possible causes for an unhealthy fear of rejection prevent us from enjoying our best lives. Understanding why we are afraid of rejection might help us develop healthy coping skills.

The symptoms of a fear of rejection are frequently linked to social anxiety. This is because social anxiety intensifies our fear of embarrassment and rejection while simultaneously making communication difficult. Anxiety or rumination may also be caused by obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Another common underlying cause of a fear of rejection is trauma. PTSD can cause both “fight-or-flight” and “fawning” reactions.

Fawning is the act of trying to please others to avoid rejection or conflict. Each mental health challenge has a unique underlying reason, and only a licensed counselor can tell us where our concern comes from. 

Understanding the Roots of Addiction 

Addiction is a neuropsychological disorder characterized by a persistent and intense urge to engage in certain behaviors, despite negative consequences and harm. Repetitive drug use often alters brain functions in ways that perpetuate a craving and weakens self-control. Chemical addiction refers to addiction that involves the use of substances. Addiction that involves compulsive behaviors, on the other hand, is referred to as behavioral addiction. These are persistent, repeated behaviors that we carry out even if they don’t offer any real benefit.

Addiction is a disease, and it deserves proper treatment. Substance use disorder is almost always the symptom of a much deeper emotional wound. An addiction counselor will help us find a way to heal using cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, or eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy.

We have access to a wide range of treatment options, whether it’s SLC alcohol rehab programs, PDX substance abuse programs, or any treatment option near you. If we find a high-quality rehab program, we can understand what we are addicted to and how that addiction is negatively impacting our lives. With this knowledge, we can start the process of living a healthy life. 

Understanding Why Making Friends is So Challenging 

When we grow up, the friendships we have often get overshadowed by all the other responsibilities we take on. Making friends can be hard because we lack social skills or because we no longer have a context for meeting people. When was the last time we met someone new?

Especially as adults it can feel like new friends don’t just appear in our lives in the same way they used to. One solution is to be proactive and reach out, saying, “Hey, it’s been wonderful talking to you. I’d like to talk with you more. Do you mind if we trade phone numbers?”

In other cases, making friends depends on how open we are. If we are reluctant to open ourselves, it can prevent us from developing new connections. It’s fine to consider ourselves independent people, but who says independent individuals must be lonely?

It is more powerful to be able to draw other people into our lives and have them on our side. It is not necessary to be Superman to have a social life. All we need is a series of strategic strategies that will bring new people into our lives on their own. These might include getting involved in a group or regular activity. We can develop friendships with the server at our local coffee shop, or others who attend a weekly class.