Once you have looked at your values, you may want to expand your self awareness a little further. As a further self awareness tool you might want to look at your 'standards'.

A standard is something that is, or is to be, upheld. Here, we want to list the moral standards we wish to uphold.

I recognise that mentioning morality for many people is almost taboo, but we all have 'standards of behaviour'. We all have a level of depravity we refuse to stoop too. Nowadays, the notion of 'morals' is seen by some as part of an old conspiracy to keep good people down. However, as a self-awareness tool, it is a good idea to think about, and make some decisions on, where we stand.

Self awareness success tool

In the context of creating our own standards, where the only recognition of them need be our own, we should look at the following:

• What standard of behaviour shall I not go below?
• What standard of moral judgement shall I uphold?

Because we are never going to go below this standard we set for ourselves, it is necessary to write in the exceptions to the rule and be very precise in our wording.

Do not let this put you off. Even if you have to revise these standards soon after the first attempt, it means personal growth is unfolding. You are learning things about yourself. For instance, people often find that their standard of 'never telling lies' is unworkable.

The next article takes youe self awareness one step further, and also helps you keep to your Standards, by giving you a chance to try them out before commiting yourself to them.

Go to the next article, Principles of Personal Growth