In our previous newsletter, we talked about the importance of self knowledge. Knowing ourselves intimately is important because it allows us to understand why we behave or react in a certain way towards certain things or people. It gives us more conscious choices which we never knew we had before.

Today we will be discussing about a simple concept called the Awareness Wheel. Although simple to understand, it really is a very powerful tool to bring about more conscious awareness into our personal experience as we interact with people, things and the surroundings.

The Awareness Wheel is compartmentalized into 5 different aspects of our mental processes as we experience life. These 5 aspects are:

1. Sensory data
2. Thoughts
3. Feelings
4. Wants
5. Actions

Sensory data is all the information we receive through our five physical senses, i.e. our eyes, ears, nose, tongue and skin. This data, once received, is immediately processed in our mind by comparing it with previous experiences.

Thoughts are automatically formed with very little conscious awareness through this inner processing involving past memories. Within this process, assumptions, beliefs, concepts, expectations, meanings and judgments are made.

Our thoughts, then, are the story we tell ourselves and others about the sensory data that we have interpreted. Unless we are fully aware of this process, we are unlikely to be able to see things as they really are. Instead, it will be a story we have created from our own perceptions, coming from our own perspectives.

Feelings are our physiological responses to those thoughts, resulting in pleasant or unpleasant sensations which we described as fear, sadness, anger, joy or guilt, or all the other variations of emotion.

Wants are our desires, expectations, hopes and yearnings that we have for ourselves.

Actions are our behaviors, in words or actions, that follow through as a result of how we interpret and perceive the data, and whether they are compatible with what we want.

When our interpretation is not compatible with what we want, negative emotions arise, which lead to behaviors that are likely to result in negative outcomes. Likewise, when the interpretation is compatible with our desires, positive emotions are generated and we behave in a more desirable way which most likely lead to desirable outcomes.

In most instances, we are aware of only a portion of this entire process. For example, some people find it easy to be aware of their thoughts but have difficulty in recognizing and identifying their feelings. When we have trained ourselves to be aware of all five, we are more aware of our thoughts, recognize the feelings triggered by or associated with the thoughts, identify our desires, expectations and hopes and why we react the way we did.

Knowing this process intimately and consciously provides us with more choices and assists us in making wiser decisions. It also helps us in resolving conflicts in our relationships, in understanding ourselves and others better. In turns, our empathy for others increases and we become more compassionate, accepting and forgiving.

Knowing the Awareness Wheel is part of the process of introspection or looking within that is required for self understanding. I strongly encouraged you to be familiar with it.

About the Author

Dr. Tim Ong is a medical doctor with keen interest in self improvement, mind science and spirituality. He is also the author of "From Fear to Love: A Spiritual Journey" - a book that explores our hidden fears and how we can overcome them. Dr. Ong shares his personal experience as well as relates stories and lessons from his patients. You can get a copy of his ebook here (with a special discount): From Fear to Love.

In this video, Willard discusses the intention behind the series "Self-Awareness 101". A great place to start for anyone new to the Self Awareness 101 series.

The people of Haiti have been suffering for almost a week now following the devastating earthquake. In a natural disaster of such nature, food, clean drinking water, clothes, shelters and medicine are urgently needed. In this poor country, rescue equipments, rescuers, doctors and volunteers are also in short supply.

As human beings, we need to reach out and lend a helping hand. Remember, we are participating in the creation of a better world for all. If we respond with indifference, we create a certain outcome and it is most likely to be undesirable. If we respond with compassion, we are creating a better outcome for all.

At the same time, we should be careful not to fall prey to scams out there purportedly collecting money for Haiti. The best thing to do is to send your contributions through reliable international rescue organizations. Go to CNN site for more info:

A man's true greatness lies in the consciousness of an honest purpose in life, founded on a just estimate of himself and everything else, on frequent self examination and a steady obedience to the rules which he knows to be right, without troubling himself about what others may think or say or do, or whether they do or do not do that which he thinks and says and does.
-- Marcus Aurelius, Meditations

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