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To facilitate growth, you must also have self-awareness, which can be practiced by reflecting on various aspects of your life, including:

📌 Energizing activities: Identify what restores your energy and balance stressors with renewal sources

📌 Draining relationships: Assess how certain relationships affect your emotional well-being

📌 Addressing avoidance: Confront what you may be avoiding rather than escaping discomfort

📌 Emotional triggers: Understand when and why you feel unhappy or respond disproportionately to situations

📌 Feedback reception: Approach criticism with curiosity for growth

📌 Self-sabotage: Recognize behaviors that may seem rewarding but hinder your well-being

📌 Internal narratives: Challenge negative self-stories and identify external influences on your behavior

Key takeaways: If you want to understand yourself better, remain curious and accept that your ability to practice self-awareness will be an ongoing journey. Further, you can engage with trusted individuals (or immerse yourself in retirement coaching!) for guidance on your blind spots and avenues for personal development.