Reality Check, We All Have Blind Spots
Reality Check, We All Have Blind Spots
Reality Check, We All Have Blind Spots
I was talking to someone last week after a presentation, and she said, “All this leadership and communication stuff is great, but it doesn’t really apply to me. Everyone likes me.”
That may be true sister, but let’s face it, you don’t know what you don’t know. We all have blind spots. A blind spot is a part of our personality or behavior that we’re not aware of, yet others can see it. And regardless of our intelligence, emotional or otherwise, we all have them.
If you want to continue to grow, personally or professionally, it helps to become more self-aware.
If you’re ready for a reality check and want to uncover your blind spots, try these suggestions:
- You have to want to know what your blind spots are. If you’re not ready to uncover them, that’s ok. Ignorance is bliss and sometimes we’re not in a place to “work” on our own issues. Give yourself permission not to worry about it until it’s something you can really focus on.
- If you do seek feedback, be prepared to listen without getting defensive. Ask questions and make statements, but don’t attack and don’t defend.
- Ask the people who know you and care about you to be honest and give you constructive feedback. Giving feedback is a risk, so be grateful if people are willing to give it.
- Pick one area and focus on it. Behavior changes one of three ways: rarely, slowly, or never. Don’t try to bite off more than you can chew. It will become overwhelming and nothing will change.
- Seek on-going feedback and make it safe for people to provide it. If you get defensive and argumentative, people will stop giving you feedback.
- Ask for positive, as well as constructive feedback. Ask others about your strengths and where they see you making progress.
- It’s a journey, not a destination. No matter how enlightened we are, we’ll always have some blind spots, and that’s ok. Continuously striving for progress is the goal.
How do you uncover your blind spots? Comment below!
#WednesdayWisdom from @mrdavehollis. I'm really excited to check out his new book #BuiltThroughCourage.
The main difference between those who courageously act and those who stay stuck amounts to how we view fear. Courage is not the absence of fear. Courage is being afraid and working through the discomfort. Courage means you allow challenge and adversity to be a catalyst to help you grow strong enough to face whatever life throws at you.
What types of courage come easily for you? Which ones are more difficult? And what blocks you from behaving courageously in the circumstances you face? 💪 #wednesdaywisdom #courage #resilience #fearasfuel #reframefear #mindset #personaldevelopment
YOU GOT THIS.
As research for my book "Mind Over Moment: Harness the Power of Resilience", I spent a lot of time learning what helps develop and maintain resilience and have boiled it down to three main areas: Your mindset, skillset, and your ability to reset.
But just like anything else, knowing what builds resilience isn’t enough. You have to actively practice these skills. In this month's blog, I'm showing you how. Link in my bio! 👆 #resilience #mindset #mindfulness #mindovermoment #blog #skillset #reset #habits #personalgrowth #personaldevelopment #youareasurvivor💪
Happiness is a skill.
If you aren’t feeling very happy, satisfied, or content, look for blips of happiness. If you’re feeling angry, frustrated, or overwhelmed, look for blips of relief and realize that this too shall pass. No one is always happy or never happy. Happiness, just like sadness, and just about every other emotion happens in little blips. We get to choose which blips we focus on. #mindfulmonday #mindfulness #reslience #happiness #optimism #deliciousmoments #emotionalgrowth #personaldevelopment #mindset
What if you could break free from reactivity with a reset—a chance once and for all to define the life you want and create a path to get there, all while building resilience along the way? You can.
It’s time to delve into your automatic thought patterns, belief systems and daily habits to identify which ones are serving you. Resilience is built by deliberately cultivating productive beliefs, behaviors, and habits to intentionally break out of reactivity and live purposefully. If you have found yourself stuck in reactivity either before this pandemic or during it, remember to reset, practice #MindOverMoment, and purposefully build the life you deserve. It’s about what you do starting now that matters. #resilience #mindfulness #authorsofinstagram #booklaunchanniversary #breakout #liveonpurpose #habits #personalgrowth #reset #grow
Can a dog help you build resilience? 🐶
I have always been a dog lover, and as the mom of two fur babies of my own (I call them my therapy dogs), I thought the answer to this question was a no-brainer. It turns out that yes, dogs can improve our resilience and well-being IF we, the dog owners, raise them correctly.
Here are 5 ways Fido can improve your well-being:
1️⃣ Exercise
Dogs like walks, and it turns out that walks are good for people too.
2️⃣ Mindfulness
Dogs are naturally curious, sniffing and exploring their environment, 100% present in whatever they are doing. And when your dog licks your face to wake you up, puts his/her head on your lap, or nudges you to pet him/her, you are snapped back to the present moment.
3️⃣ Social Connection
Dogs are the best icebreakers. "Oh, your dog is so cute! What type of dog is it?" Aside from being a great pick up line, dogs create social connection.
4️⃣ Training
I love my dogs (an unhealthy amount), but they are horribly trained. Both dogs have trained me instead of the other way around. If you have a dog that is well-behaved, calm, and enjoyable to be around, they are likely to positively impact your well-being.
5️⃣ Purpose
Dogs give us a sense of purpose and an incredible opportunity to practice empathy. Our pups need us to feed them, walk them, spend time with them, and give them love.
Look for a longer post about how dogs can help us build resilience later this week on LinkedIn. Share a pic of your pup with me in the comments! 👇👇 #resilience #reset #mindfulness #mindovermoment #dogs #dogsofinstagram #dogmom #pets #therapydogs
Don’t neglect what brings you joy.
Sometimes it is easier said than done when you’re in the middle of it, but choosing optimism means you are deliberate about the way you interpret the adversity in your life.
Every situation, especially the difficult ones, provides an opportunity to challenge our self-defeating, negative thoughts. And this isn’t just fluff. Scientific research has proven that when you look at life through a lens of positivity, you are more likely to enjoy better mental and physical health. #mindfulmonday #mindfulness #resilience #optimism #choosejoy #protectyourpeace #mindovermoment #mentalhealth #mentalhealthmatters
Read Up on Resilience!
Anne’s Books Available on Amazon.com!
Anne Grady is a Speaker, Author, and #TruthBomb Dropper.
Anne shares practical strategies that can be applied both personally and professionally to improve relationships, navigate change, and triumph over adversity. And she’ll make you laugh while she does it. Anne is a two time TEDx speaker, and her work has been featured in numerous media outlets, including Harvard Business Review, Entrepreneur, Forbes, Fast Company and Inc. magazines, CNN, ESPN, and FOX Business. She is the best selling author of 52 Strategies for Life, Love & Work and Strong Enough: Choosing Courage, Resilience and Triumph.
“You don’t know what you don’t know. That is a great statement.
Great advice!! Had to share some feedback with a friend over the weekend regarding how he communicates with another person who he’d been complaining about. It was a minefield, but went really well (and he already knew what I was saying was true, so that helped a lot), but when carefully worded, it can be great for everyone involved.
Hi Val! Sounds like you did your friend a huge favor, and props to you for taking the time and risk to provide feedback!
Wow. That’s great. I always say, “sometimes I may say things you may not like, so I apologize in advance, but if I hurt your feelings, let me know.” We all have people that like us, but those that don’t may never say it. I loved that statement ” you don’t know what you don’t know.” Thank you Anne! That was great.
Thanks, Juanita! I like the way you preface giving feedback. Great idea.