“At a certain level of self-awareness, we perceive something supernatural in us.”   Leo Tolstoy, Writer.
 
The term self awareness comes up frequently in wellness circles today, but it is hardly a new concept.  For millennia, the value of self-awareness has been recognized around the world, evidenced through art, literature, religion, and a variety of ritual practices passed down from one generation to another.  But what is self-awareness exactly, and why is it so important?
 
Let's start with the "what" part of things.  To be self-aware is to be knowledgeable of and attuned to one's own being.  Who are you?  Where are things at with you?  What are your core values?  What are your core beliefs?  What motivates you to do the things you do?  Once you take some time to reflect on what self-awareness is, it doesn't take long to see why this quality is so important, and how its presence – or absence – can have a profound impact on your life. 

More and more people are taking up the practice of journaling, and with good reason.  Journal writing is an incredibly powerful tool for improving every aspect of your health – physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. 
 
As you write about different situations in your life, you can start to organize your thoughts while getting more in touch with your emotions.  Oftentimes, we don't even recognize all the different thoughts and feelings we may have at any given time.  Journal writing can help you identify and sort out exactly what you're experiencing and where your stress and tension is coming from.  There's a good chance you'll find yourself sleeping more peacefully as a result, since you no longer have all that disorganized activity in your mind – and the ensuing stress – to deal with.  
 
In addition to reducing day-to-day stress, journaling also provides an opportunity for deeper healing, by allowing you to address past issues that are still affecting you. 

Anyone who has ever had difficulty making a big decision knows the feeling.  No matter how much time you spend mulling things over, you just don't know which way to go.  Your mind feels confused, and you feel torn between the available options.  You keep running things over in your mind, hoping for some kind of insight or revelation, but the confusion just grows and you're no further ahead.
 
When you're struggling to like this, the source of the problem is often two-fold.  First, there's a good chance the pressure and stress of the situation is making it difficult for you to get in touch with what you truly want.  The second issue is likely one of interference; you're distracted by what you think you should do, based on some outside standard or other people's expectations. 
 
Asking yourself the following questions will help you block out all the excess static and get tuned in to what's right for you.

Self-care is a hot topic these days.  There's a growing awareness that even small changes can have a big impact on your physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. 

At the same time, many people struggle with self-care and find it difficult to put into practice.  They have no problem attending to the needs of others, yet they find it difficult to acknowledge their own needs.  Why is that?
 
Here are 5 of the most common reasons why people struggle with prioritizing their own self-care.