Introduction: Chaos as a Catalyst for Awareness
For me, that moment came on a Thursday, midweek in the Be More Social Challenge, when the daily theme was Cultivate Awareness. Let me tell you—it was exactly the wake-up call I didn’t know I needed. I’d had barely any sleep, my phone was buzzing with time zone mishaps, and a business meeting I’d invested deeply in turned out to be a dead end.
Awareness rarely announces itself with fanfare. More often than not, it crashes into our lives like a rogue wave—sudden, unsettling, and yet strangely clarifying.
But in the midst of the overwhelm, something clicked.
Awareness, I realized, is not about avoiding mistakes. It’s about recognizing patterns before they repeat.
Let me share what I learned that day—the good, the messy, and the moment of truth.
The Best and Worst Times to Cultivate Awareness
You might assume the best time to build awareness is when you’re grounded, relaxed, and well-rested. I used to think that too.
But in reality? Awareness tends to strike hardest when everything is falling apart.
That Thursday, I was juggling timezone confusion with team members from Pakistan, late-night messages I couldn’t respond to in time, and a level of exhaustion that made me feel like I was spinning in circles.
I was trying to do everything—be everywhere for everyone—and I was getting nowhere.
That’s when I remembered our challenge theme: “Cultivate Awareness. Not just react. Not just grind. Cultivate.”
So I paused. I stopped trying to control everything, and instead, I looked inward.
Understanding the Three Levels of Awareness
Earlier that morning, I revisited a foundational idea I often lean on in my coaching sessions, the three levels of awareness:
- Conscious: What we know we know.
- Subconscious: What we know, but don’t always notice.
- Unconscious: What we don’t know we don’t know.
Most of us live in the conscious space. We love task lists, goals, and clear outcomes. But the subconscious and unconscious layers? That’s where the real transformation lives.
And let’s be honest—those hidden layers are also where most of our “sharks” swim.
Sharks Beneath the Surface
That day, the metaphor we explored was:
“Navigate wisely. Avoid the sharks.”
At first, I laughed. It sounded like something from a cheesy Instagram post. But as the day unfolded, it hit home.
Here’s where I noticed my sharks were swimming:
- Unspoken frustrations with people who talk about change but don’t take action.
- Hidden resentment over constantly giving more than I receive.
- Recurring doubts about whether I’m truly seen, heard, or understood.
All of these were floating beneath my “calm” surface—and they were threatening to capsize my emotional stability.
But awareness? It helped me start steering again.
My Personal “Aha” Moments
Despite the emotional fog, Thursday ended up being one of the most impactful days in the challenge so far. Here are a few insights that stuck:
Aha #1: Leadership is Showing Up, Even When It’s Hard
Cloud, one of our Filipino team members, had poor internet. But he didn’t give up. He downloaded old content, stayed patient, and found a way to contribute. That’s leadership. Not loud. Not flashy. Just consistent.
Aha #2: People Will Let You Down — But Some Will Lift You Up
That charity meeting? It was a dead end. I’d poured in time, money, and hope, but it showed me who wasn’t aligned with the mission. That truth hurt, but it gave me clarity. Sometimes, awareness comes wrapped in a “no”— and that’s a gift.
Aha #3: Awareness Doesn’t Need to Be Complicated
We often think personal growth requires fancy language or deep philosophy. But sometimes. it’s as simple as asking for two names to support a cause—and not getting them. Silence is awareness, too.
When Trust Gets Tested: Navigating Time Zones & Commitment
My work connects me to incredible people across the globe—Australia, the Philippines, Pakistan, Kenya, Nigeria, the U.S.—but coordinating across time zones isn’t always easy.
I rely on tools like Google Calendar, WhatsApp, and GDrive, but no technology can replace human integrity. I’ve learned that trust isn’t about showing up on time—it’s about showing up consistently.
And if you can’t show up for yourself, I can’t do it for you.
Execution and Accountability: The 4DX Reminder
Later in the day, I was reminded of a framework I value deeply: The Four Disciplines of Execution (4DX).
Here’s how it works:
- Focus on the wildly important.
- Act on lead measures.
- Keep a compelling scoreboard.
- Create a cadence of accountability.
On days like Thursday, when things feel chaotic, it’s easy to get stuck staring at the scoreboard—counting failures, stressing missed connections. But the magic of awareness is that it lets you re-center and take that first actionable step again.
Tips That Helped Me Cultivate Awareness
Here are a few things that cultivates my awareness, even while the day was unraveling:
- Take 10 minutes to reflect. No screen. No noise. Just you and your breath.
- Observe emotional patterns. What are you feeling often? Why?
- Audit your week. What worked? Where did time slip away?
- Communicate with clarity. Set expectations and time zones upfront—then repeat them.
- Listen deeply. Not just to others, but to your intuition. It usually knows.
Final Thoughts: What Awareness Means
By the end of the day, I wasn’t fixed. I wasn’t suddenly balanced or calm. But I was aware.
I could see where the sharks were swimming.
I could see who was showing up—and who wasn’t.
I could see that in the middle of the mess, I’d found something priceless: the ability to pause and notice.
So the next time your day spins off course, take a breath and ask:
“What’s going on here?”
You might just find that your greatest growth doesn’t come in moments of peace, but in the middle of the storm.
Ready to Navigate More Wisely?
Cultivate Awareness
Take 10 minutes today for your Cultivate Awareness check-in.
Visit chooseyourchapter.com.au to get involved.
Share your own “shark” story or aha moment in the comments below.
