self-awareness is a very interesting phenomena. some people seem to be overly self-aware while others are so far from reality it is almost comical. you know what i'm talking about don't you? i would guess every family, every office, every church, every bar, every class and every other grouping of people has that person who just can't manage to see themselves the way EVERYONE else sees them.
although i haven't done any real, scientific, clinical, accurate research on the following things...i am going to throw them out there anyway. sometimes experience is the best proof of reality. below you will find a few markers/titles that i feel like describe folks who struggle with self-awareness. see if you can find yourself in here anywhere:
the "yacker": these are the people that "yack yack yack" all the time. these folks are known for talking long after the listener has lost interest. the really comical/frustrating thing is they keep talking because they think the listener is interested. they don't read or respond to disinterested body language.
the "i've got nothing better do and neither should you": these are the people that will corner you in the office, on the phone, or in the parking lot and waste your time with useless info. they believe since they have finished their project or have no life beyond the now that they are free to jeopardize your time. these people are closely related to the yackers. the bottom line is they have no awareness of other people's priorities.
the "i didn't see the line i apparently just crossed": these folks are typically fun to be around (in a human vs. spiritual sort of way). They are funny. However, they aren't very self-aware in that they do not see how there lack of discernment affects the way others view them. If this person is not a Christian then this isn't an issue but if they are believers they MUST become more aware of the impact their "comedy" has on their message and witness.
the "if people could just see it my way": these folks are rarely ever wrong and when they are it won't be their fault. you know who these people are don't you? they are the ones that pray for you to be enlightened. they are the ones that hope you will one day reach their level of spiritual fortitude. they are the ones that make the rest of us want to puke. enough said?
the "i didn't do it!": these are the people that NEVER, EVER do anything wrong. it is always someone else's fault. if someone else would have said something....if the computer would just calculate properly....if the keys wouldn't get up and walk away....if the school wasn't so irresponsible....if the teacher had a clue...if the other kids weren't so mean...if the cafeteria would only serve healthier food...
the "i'm not fat": these are the people that just don't see themselves physically the way others do. go to six flags or hurricane harbor in the summer and you will see people who are suffering from some serious self-awareness issues. i know that God created each of us and that this truth alone makes us beautiful. with that being said.....some of us DO need to lose weight, get comfortable with NOT being a sex symbol, and learn to wear a little smell good (that is oklahoman for cologne).
finally (not because the list is exhaustive but because i have other things to do):
the "i'm not in denial": we have all encountered this one at some point. people who are self-aware can actually remember when they were this person. this is the person that simply has no idea what other people REALLY think about them and they wouldn't believe you if you tried to tell them. they just don't see through an objective lense. this is probably the saddest person to be out of all that i listed. to be in denial is to be satisfied with black and white in a color filled world. you just miss so much.
if you think of others send me a comment. keep the following in mind:
1. this is not an exercise for you to identify others who are not self-aware
2. this is an exercise for you to see where you may be....and to then pray for change
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