Lots of people read books and articles, spend time researching and learning, studying in school and attending seminars. But without self-awareness your ability to properly apply the new information is immensely diluted. Great self-awareness allows you to effectively create change with new information. Sometimes, I wonder if this topic is even worth talking about because most people think they're already self-aware and need not pay any additional attention to the topic. The truth is, most people are very unaware of their own habitual lifestyles. They don't understand where certain beliefs and convictions came from, they don't know why and how they developed the shame they carry around and the ways in which their lives are affected by such issues.

If you study addiction recovery groups, they work very hard on understanding the self-awareness concepts I'm talking about. Many people think that reading the Alcoholics Anonymous book would be a sign of weakness and a suggestions that they are insane and need help. I think it would be a wise thing for most people to do because if people who are to some degree out of control in regards to a habit or habits can change those habits and regain their lives what could it teach the rest of us about our habits and cultural quarks?