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DAY 7

Self Awareness

Today I need you to rest your body and work your mind. Becoming a warrior requires a personal journey of self-improvement, but first we must explore the concept of self-awareness – after all, no map can work without knowing where the hell you already are!

You no doubt already feel this to be true and there is much evidence to support the fact that there is a really close connection between self-awareness and personal success and achievement. A recent study at Cornell University examining 72 high-level executives with revenues from $50 million to $5 billion found that “a high self-awareness score was the strongest predictor of overall success”.  A similar story emerges from the world of sports too. For instance, when tennis legend Billie Jean King was asked about the secret to her success, she replied: “I think self-awareness is probably the most important thing towards being a champion.”

The importance of knowing oneself is also an essential part of many of the world’s major religions and spiritual practices. The whole of Buddhism is built on becoming more aware of ourselves and the world we live in and on teaching ourselves how to transcend the illusions of what we think is true. Similarly, the world of literature has countless wonderful stories that share insights into the human condition and the importance of knowing thyself. ‘The Invisible Man’ for example is impossible to read without asking profound questions about one’s own identity and morality.

“I had no desire to destroy myself even if it destroyed the machine; I wanted freedom, not destruction. It was exhausting, for no matter what the scheme I conceived, there was one constant flaw – myself. There was no getting around it. I could no more escape than I could think of my identity. Perhaps, I thought, the two things are involved with one another. When I discover who I am, I’ll be free.”

The Invisible man – Ralph Ellison

The Danger of Self Awareness

It has been argued that self-awareness can be dangerous, because it can very quickly lead us to pretty deep existential questions. Why are we here? What’s the point of life? If we can’t think of good answers, it may lead some people to “nihilism” – which is the belief that life is meaningless.

‘Truth’ should be objective but is rather subjective in practice, so if you or a loved one is falling into an existential funk or is depressed about life, then the solution is to search for meaning, and any meaning will do. Victor Frankel, imprisoned into a Nazi concentration camp discusses this concept in his aptly titled (and very much worth reading) book ‘Man’s Search for Meaning’.

“There is nothing in the world, I venture to say, that would so effectively help one to survive even the worst conditions as the knowledge that there is a meaning in one’s life. There is much wisdom in the words of Nietzsche: He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how.”
Man’s Search for Meaning – Victor Frankl

The Power of Exercise

During my 25+ years of coaching I’ve got to hang out with lots of people going through serious identity crises brought about by divorces, career disasters or upsetting personal events. What has always happened has been nothing short of remarkable: as soon as they threw themselves into healthy living and fitness, their self-esteem shot up too. The more their training became mindful and holistic, the more their self-image improved as well. It turns out that the process of improving your physical self and committing to a big goal puts you in a resourceful emotional state, which enables you to make better decisions.  That is why major fitness and lifestyle changes are often the catalyst for dramatic improvements in other areas of one’s life.

Ultimately, life IS just more fulfilling when you know who you are. I developed NUK SOO™ not just to get you in great shape but also to teach you to be a ‘warrior’. To become a warrior (literally and metaphorically) you must first know yourself fully which means that you must know your weaknesses, know your strengths, know your mind and know your body. Please accept my two challenges below before moving onto day eight.

Challenge One - Owning your Narrative

Write down the three hardest things that happened to you in your life – what you learned from these experiences and how they shaped you into who you are today. After you have done it, please do it again but this time imagine the most positive way you can answer. It does not matter if you believe it at this stage, just the process of writing a more positive version of your narrative can be incredibly beneficial.

Challenge Two - Becoming Nutritionally Aware

My second challenge is regarding food.  Having more external knowledge about food macronutrient breakdowns, glycaemic load and other nutritional facts is important, and you will learn all kind of things about food (and stress and motivation and much more) in NUK SOO™, but adding more knowledge will not be the main variable in helping you through the following 82 days. I think you also need a kick up the arse to actually apply the things you already know to be true!  Over the next six days, I want you to keep a food diary.

Please spend 20 minutes and answer these questions now. I personally find it more powerful to write them down as it forces you to clarify your feelings but it’s completely up to you. Good luck.

  • What are your health, fitness & body composition goals?
  • Do you feel the way you eat conducive to you feeling energised, happy and athletic?
  • Do you eat a balanced diet full of nutrient dense real foods?
  • Do you feed yourself too much/too little at times? Why?
  • Do you think you have a great relationship with food and why/why not?
  • Should you eat better and why?
  • How ready are you to make small changes in your diet?
  • Where do you get your nutrition knowledge?
  • What two behaviours/habits related to food could you change today that would help you move closer to your goals?

So my final challenge for you today is to make two positive dietary changes this week. If you are stuck, feel free to ask us for ideas on Instagram at @nuk_soo and we’ll be happy to review your ideas and to be of assistance!

This completes your 7 day trial of NUK SOO™, we hope you have enjoyed it. This trial membership will be automatically deleted within 24 hours. If you wish to continue your journey and maintain full access to the NUK SOO™ experience, please upgrade below.

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