Self Awareness Quiz
1.When you look in the mirror for the first time each day, what is the first thing you usually notice?
A. My hair-ugh! Good thing no one sees me but the people who really love me a lot!
B. All those little pores on my nose. There must be some product to get rid of those!
C. My expression. It's a good indicator of my mood!
D. I don't habitually look in a mirror.
2. If you had to spend an entire day alone, how would you feel about the prospect?
A. That would be horrible! What would I do? Whom would I talk to?
B. It would be okay if I could have a TV and lots of books and magazines or maybe get some work done.
C. It might be interesting to spend some time thinking over different areas of my life.
D. I'd love it! Relaxing, rejuvenating, and what else can I say-I'm great company!
3. Close your eyes and envision your ideal self. How is that self different from the you of the present moment?
A. Better body, nicer face, and really great hair.
B. More successful and richer.
C. Happier and more content.
D. We're one and the same!
4. How would you describe your health habits?
A. I love certain foods that I probably should give up but can't. I really hate to exercise. I often feel guilty about my lack of commitment to good health habits.
B. Pretty good. I eat right and exercise because I want to look really great.
C. I try to take care of my body, and I find I'm usually in a better mood if I eat well and exercise.
D. I keep both my mind and body in shape because it helps me to maximize my physical and mental potential.
5. How would you describe your health itself?
A. I don't have any major health problems. I don't pay much attention to my health unless I come down with something.
B. Very good. I take all precautions to avoid getting sick. Sick people can't be productive! If I do get sick, I try to ignore it.
C. I keep up with the latest health research and try to practice preventive health care for my overall health. If I get sick, I consider all the different healing alternatives to find the most effective course of action for me.
D. I might be healthy or I might have certain health problems, but I continually monitor my health-physical, mental, and emotional-and listen to what my mind-body needs. I strongly believe the mind can be a significant influence in healing the body.
6. What do you think is the difference between the "real" you and the you every one sees each day?
A. The real me is much less accomplished, talented, and in control than the "me" everyone knows or thinks they know. Sometimes I feel like a fraud.
B. The real me is actually an idealized version of myself-smarter, better looking, more in control, more successful. I'm working hard to become the real me through whatever methods seem workable. This me you see is just temporary.
C. The real me is the outside me, but with more vulnerabilities and fewer material concerns.
D. The real me is a more complex and subtle version of the me everyone else sees. In essence, though, we are the same. I feel like all sides of myself are consistent.
7. What is the most significant way you've changed in the past five years?
A. I'm a few pounds heavier with a few more gray hairs, but basically the
same. My life just keeps chugging along.
B. I'm aging fast! I hate to see my younger self fading away, but I'm fighting
it at every turn.
C. I'm older and wiser. I've learned a lot about life in the past five years.
D. I've become much more aware of who I am and where my life is heading. I have a clearer idea of what success really means, and I'm happier and more at peace.
8. What do you hope will be the most significant difference about yourself in five years from now?
A. I hope I don't gain too much more weight! I also hope I'll be making more money, though I doubt I will be.
B. I'll be following my five-year plan, and with luck I can accomplish all my goals. I'll have a perfect life even if it gives me a nervous breakdown!
C. I hope I'm in a more secure position, both externally and internally. I imagine I'll be more mature and, I hope, less stressed about daily life.
D. I hope I will be living in, or much nearer to, a state of enlightenment.
9. How would you characterize your spiritual life?
A. I go to my place of worship on the significant holidays most years like a person is supposed to. Otherwise, I don't think about spiritual matters very often.
B. Who has time for a spiritual life? There are things to do, people to see, places to go, contacts to sign, and money to make!
C. I might or might not go to a place of worship, but I think about spiritual matters fairly frequently, and I am interested in exploring the possibilities of a more spiritual existence.
D. My daily life equals my spiritual life. Almost everything I do, I do with a sense of spirituality.
10. Who are you?
A. You mean you want to see some ID?
B. Here's my resume.
C. I am a human being striving to live a good and happy life.
D. I am the creation of and the manifestation of universal consciousness.
How did you do? Tally your answers and see how many of each letter you chose. Then, read the section under the letter you chose most often. If you chose several letters about equally often, read all those sections. Lots of us have a little of several types within us.
If you chose mostly A answers : You aren't too fond of self-analysis. You constantly doubt yourself, criticize yourself, and may assume that others share your opinions about yourself. Choosing mostly A answers says nothing about your actual self-worth, only your self-perception. Whether you have been overly criticized in the past or simply feel unable to get control over your personal habits, you aren't particularly content. You function in society just fine most of the time, but your life could be so much richer and fuller if you could learn to nurture yourself and treat yourself with a little more loving kindness.
Meditation is an ideal pursuit for you because it teaches you how to look inward without a judgmental eye. Simply look. Who are you? No, don't start judging. Just look. Who are you? Gradually, you'll begin to recognize within yourself the miraculous and uniquely individual human being you are. The problem is, because you aren't too comfortable with self-awareness, you may find basic sitting meditation too difficult at first. Instead, try mindfulness. Mindfulness is the practice of simply being aware and noticing as much as you can during everyday life. Take a mindful walk in the fresh air or begin a regular yoga practice. Practice mindfulness when you vacuum or go to the gym or drink a cup of coffee. Meditating during daily life can be a great way to ease into a more structured and formal meditation practice. The more comfortable you become with self-awareness, the more comfortable you will be with meditation.
If you chose mostly B answers : You're a go-getter. The problem is, you may tend to chase things that won't actually bring you happiness. You might be, deep down, just a little bit discontent with who you are, but you have a very detailed plan about how to change all that. Rather than accepting yourself, you've constructed an idea of another, new-and-improved you. Whether you think more money, better looks, less fat, more muscle, a more prestigious job, or finally apprehending your soul mate is the answer to reinventing yourself, chances are your plans are generally based on external concerns. If you ask people who have these things, however, most of them will tell you that the money, the looks, the job, the soul mate are great but are not the answer to true happiness. For that, you have to look inside.
Because you are so action-oriented, meditation will probably be challenging for you. How can you just sit still like that when you've got so much to do? Meditation can benefit you by peeling away the layers of your material existence, then the layers of your desires, to see what's underneath. Afraid you'll find nothing at all? Don't worry. There's something there-a precious jewel, untouched by any mistakes you've made or wrongs that have been done to you. That jewel is worth more than all the material wealth in the world. You just have to search for it with the same energy and vigor with which you attempt to reshape your external self. Trouble is, you find just sitting there pretty darned difficult. You like to move, so movement meditation can be a perfect segue for you into the world of meditation practice. Try yoga, dancing, or sports as meditation. Move with focused and complete mindfulness in the movement. Or take a daily meditation walk, meditating as you walk quietly by yourself without talking for about 15 minutes, simply focusing inward and noticing without judging the impressions that come and go. This can be a great centering exercise for someone like you and can help you gently and gradually accept yourself for the you you are right now.
If you chose mostly C answers : Many people who pick up this book are probably a lot like you. You live your life, doing what you need to do, but more and more often, you find yourself wondering about what else is out there for you. You aren't so much looking for material wealth as you're looking for spiritual wealth. You know there's a lot more to you than you're putting into play. You suspect you could be happier, calmer, and more alive. On the other hand, you don't want to be thought of as weird or "out there." You've got responsibilities and the necessary worldly concerns.
Meditation doesn't have to be "out there" at all. In fact, meditation is the opposite of "out there." It's all about "in here." Meditation is quiet self-reflection. It hushes up that frantic inner voice that, granted, propels you through your day, helping you to get everything done. But you can do without it for 20 minutes or so each day. You don't need that frantic inner voice all the time, and meditating will help you shut off that voice. It will help you open up the calmer self that is beneath all the frenzy. Then you can listen for what the universe, or God, or your deeper inner self has been trying to tell you all along. Wonderful secrets lie in there, waiting to whisper themselves to you. All you have to do is listen, and you are ready to listen. You've been watching the signs, and you're just not sure if you should trust them or follow them. Follow this one. We'll show you how. Start with classic sitting meditation, just five minutes a day at first, and gradually work up to more time. Twice a day is ideal. You'll love what this kind of practice will do for your life.
If you chose mostly D answers : What are you doing reading this book? You can't fool us! You're already meditating, aren't you! Or you've been praying or practicing some form of self-actualized living. You're in touch with who you are, you cherish and love yourself, and you feel like you know your place in the universal scheme of things. You're also in touch with a higher power, whether you believe that power is outside you, within you, or both. You are making the most of your life, and you are truly alive. But go ahead and read this book, anyway. Why not? There's always more to learn on the soul's magnificent journey.