The Messy Middle: Finding Your Way Through the Hardest and Most Crucial Part of Any Bold Venture

by Scott Belsky

Self-awareness means understanding your own feelings enough to recognize what bothers you. Whatever triggers your frustration or irritates you is rooted in a core value you have, something you vehemently stand for or against. For example, injustice really bothers me. Whenever I see unfairness, I need to right it. When I am taken advantage of, I will opt to right the wrong even if the economic cost of doing so exceeds the economic impact of letting it go. This behavior could potentially be destructive, and it is tied to one of my core values. But now that I have made myself aware of it, I can see it bubbling up in myself and learn how to mitigate it. At least I try. Being conscious of your triggers helps you take your finger off that trigger.