7-Day Self-Discovery Challenge

If I were to ask you: How well do you know yourself? What would you say? You might laugh and respond,

"What do you mean, Alena? I live with myself, so of course, I know myself pretty well!"

Do you?

By ‘knowing yourself,’ I mean not just being aware of who you are (and that, in itself, is a BIG question), but also understanding why you act or react the way you do, what drives you, why you feel the way you feel, and why certain situations and people drive you insane.

The sad truth is that many of us are largely unaware of what we do and why we do it. Most of the time, we tend to run on autopilot.

Research shows that only about 5% of our cognitive activities—decisions, actions, behaviors—are conscious, while the other 95% are generated unconsciously.

You don’t need to be an expert to see this in action:

• Have you ever sat in a bar observing the behavior of the people around you (and not only when they’ve had a bit too much to drink)? 😅
• Have you ever said or done something that you immediately regretted, yet you couldn’t stop yourself in the moment?
• Or, remember the last time you tried to develop a new habit, only to find yourself right back to your old ways after a few enthusiastic days—even though you know those habits no longer serve you?

For anyone in a leadership position, this lack of self-awareness can be highly problematic—not only for the individual but for their teams and even their entire organization.

What’s more, self-awareness isn’t just a prerequisite for effective leadership; it’s also crucial for your well-being.

The more insight you have into how you show up in the world, the clearer you’ll see where your biggest barriers to success are—and you’ll be better equipped to define the best ways to break through them.

That’s why I’m excited to share a simple exercise with you today. It’s a favorite among our ‘SHELeaders’ and a powerful tool to help you start building self-awareness.

I’ve created a mini-guide to walk you through the exercise, which you can download here.

I recommend doing this exercise for at least 7 days and reflecting on the insights you gain. It can be a truly eye-opening experience!

Armed with this information, it will be easier to identify the biggest barriers to your success. You may even decide to seek additional support—whether by working with a reputable coach or exploring programs like SHELeads! 

Enjoy the challenge, and don’t hesitate to share your key insights—I’d love to hear from you!