Students can make positive changes in history everyday by becoming more self-aware in thoughts and actions.
People make choices everyday that influence the future of their lives. These choices can be conscious or unconscious, but all are driven by a sense of intention or purpose, according to Psychology Today.
When the pandemic was announced historians started to grasp the impact of the situation, according to the New York Times. Historians began taking extensive records because future generations will look back at these years and reflect on what could have been done differently and how civilians responded.
History is inescapable. Humans genetics and language are passed own through the histories of lineage and culture. Inheriting history means that new history being made currently is essential, according to Making History.
Those who practice self-awareness tend to have higher creativity and confidence. While many people believe themselves to be self-aware, only about 10% to 15% fit the criteria for self-awareness, according to the Harvard Business Review.
Being self-aware means that one thinks about their values and how others see them. Both types of self-awareness are necessary for productivity. Having involvement with history means making choices that align with one’s values and taking into consideration how one’s actions affects others.
Self-awareness exists on a spectrum and no one is perfect at it. However, when you do not align with your beliefs and values this creates a cognitive dissonance, which is uncomfortable and begs resolving, according to Positive Psychology.
Lining ourselves up with what we value and acting accordingly not only puts us on the right side of history, but may make us better at our jobs and increase better decision making skills.
There are a few ways one can learn to be self-aware. Spending time on reflection activities such as journaling and mindfulness is one way. Listening and taking input from those who care is another.
Awareness of oneself is not easy in any sense. It takes a lot of internal effort and external work to align oneself with thoughts, beliefs and actions.
Taking time to reflect can help students succeed. Reflecting can help students retain information in the long run and foster a sense of purpose in the classroom, according to Purdue University.
Critical thinking is born out of taking time to reflect, and is necessary for living in a society with other people. This can encompass anything from social skills to progressing ideas in politics.
Knowing and having a sense of purpose is important to all members of society as well as college students who will later integrate into the working world, according to Insight Assessment.
Tools like these can help upgrade thinking to a higher cognitive degree and is needed as people move forward out into the world.
