Book Review #2: The Law of Awareness

No one can produce great things who is not thoroughly sincere in dealing with himself.

~ James Russell lowell

Having a sense of direction

You need to be able to gauge where you’ve been and where you are now. Only then will you be able to plan where you want to be soon.
The book classifies 3 different sets of people when it comes to having a sense of direction.

The first are those that do not know what they want. They lack purpose. Most of such people just live their lives following the crowd. Just go to school and find a work to do that can pay your bills. People fall into this category mostly because they don’t know themselves. They’ve not taken time to explore and find out what they like.

The second are those that know what they want, but they don’t do anything about it. Such people are mostly frustrated because on a daily, they can see the gap between where they are and where they wish to be and the fact that nothing is being done to take them a step closer frustrates them. Some of them may not be pushing for those goals probably because they have other responsibilities. For instance, providing for a household. Such a person might not get enough time to be able to make ends meet to provide for their family needs whilst still getting time to pursue their own dreams. They just keep dreaming about it without taking a step

The third are those that know what they want and actually go for it. The set goals, they make sacrifices and they take action.

This seemed confusing to me at first. In order to grow, you need to know who you are. But you have to grow to know who you are. Not gonna lie, still sounds confusing.

First off, you need to find your passion and your purpose

The book outlines a series of questions to ask your self to be able to determine your passion and purpose.

1. Do you like what you are doing now?

At a point in time, in one way or the other, we find ourselves doing things we don’t like just to get by. But if you continue to do it because you fear you might not get anything better, isn’t it a bigger risk to not try at all. You wouldn’t want to live your whole life having regrets that you could have done something you love.

2. What would you like to do?

This has to do with taking time to look deeply into your self to find the things the you love to do. The things that you feel happy whilst doing, the things that you know you can do your whole life and it would never feel like a burden. Your passion. Passion gives you the energy you need to continue doing it. And if you haven’t found what is that you are looking for yet, keep searching because knowing yourself and what you want to do is one of the most important things you’ll ever do in your life.

3. Can you do what you would like to do?

After finding what you want to do or what your dream is, be realistic. Do you posses the skill to live that dream, some things can only remain just dreams. Not to discourage anyone, but you know your capabilities. If you feel it’s something you can learn to get that dream, then fine. But if it’s something that’s totally different from who you are, you don’t need anyone telling you it’s not feasible.

Figure out the difference between what you want and what you are good at. You are much more successful doing things you are good at.

Figure out what drive you and what gives you satisfaction. There are so many of us having the mindset to pursue certain careers because, the annual income is huge. Or probably because it doesn’t look that hard. While I did my internship, it was a bit odd to me that all I had to do was sit infront of a computer and enter data. The rest around me were either filling forms or filling forms. Nothing more. I knew right then this wasn’t the kind of life I wanted. I want to wake up and willing to work and find a solution to a problem. Make life a little bit easier for someone somewhere. I find joy in solving problems. The look of satisfaction and gratitude on people’s faces makes me want to do more even if I don’t get anything in return.
The job you intend doing, does the organization’s priorities align with yours?

If you are just looking to sit around for a few hours and go home while your employer seeks to see you at your maximum productivity, no one will tell you it would be a tough one.

4. Do you know why you want to do what you would like to do?

Motives matter. Like I said I’m the last question, only when you are doing it for the right reasons that it fuels you to go on. Even when things go wrong, you still wish to continue. It also allows you to keep focused and avoid falling into traps that diverts your focus.

5. Do you know what to do so you can do what you want to do?

Picture where you are now and where you want to be soon. The first step is being aware. Being aware of the choices you make that will lead you there. Study your current activities to see if they are really taking you where you want to go.

Begin. Once you’ve figured out the way to get what you want, start taking action.

You have to take accountability for you actions. One way is by making it known to certain people around you. Why?
Just look at how we are pressured to live certain ways because we feel others are watching. Whether it’s to have something to talk about or to take inspiration, we constantly feel pressured to give these people what they want. It’s time to turn that in your favor. Tell your goals to someone you look up to so much, someone that will constantly ask you about your progress, someone that you wouldn’t want to disappoint. This will keep you on your feet and working towards that goal. When it’s just to yourself, you can make as much excuses as you want and no one will hold you accountable.

Who you are is who you attract. The moment you begin to make progress with whatever you are trying to achieve, you meet like minded people. If you start going to the gym for bodybuilding purposes, you will meet people with similar goals and move together, you would meet people who just want to keep fit as well as those who are on weight loss journey.

6. Do you know people who do what you would like to do?

A very effective way to go is to find someone already at where you are and learn from their wisdom. Whatever is it that you want to achieve, there’s already someone on that path steps ahead of you. This comes in handy because you get to learn from their mistakes and not make the same. You benefit from their guidance directly or indirectly but you atleast need to find someone that you can look up to.

7. Should you do what you’d like to do with them?

Once you find this mentor that suits where you want to go, you should possess a teachable character. Leave your ego at home before going to meet them. Don’t feel too big to be taught some things or to ask certain questions. Ask great questions that will lead to a clearer path, demonstrate what you’ve learnt and be accountable for what you do with that information.

8. Will you pay the price to do what you want to do?

Most often, you are you worst enemy. You are the one standing in your own way to achieving your dreams. Your laziness, procrastination, comfort zone are most often what prevents us from moving forward but anything worthwhile doesn’t come easy. If it was easy, everyone else would be doing it. Take steps, make the sacrifices now to get you where you want to be. You know what you want and how to get there by now. Are you willing to take those steps?

9. When can you start doing what you’d like to do?

Yes, I know that you want to achieve your goals someday but why not now? Why can’t you achieve them now? Why do you think you are not ready or that they are so many distractions now? What will happen if you just start? Take one step and take another. You don’t need to have all your finances set and all skills acquired. You can just start now with whatever you have.

10. What will it be like when you get to do what you’d like to do?

One thing is certain, it would definitely not be like how you imagined it. It would require so much more to keep at it and they will be so many pressures and so many milestones to reach. But it would also give you so much fulfillment in knowing that you are doing what you were born to do. That is , of course if you are doing what you are meant to do and not something you are doing for the benefits you will get from it.