Many people view goals in a one-dimensional manner: you either succeed or you fail. It's understandable why people view goals in such a black and white manner, because as humans we tend to be very results-oriented, and it's this single-minded tenacity and critique that has allowed us to develop from cavemen around a campfire to modernized individuals living in a world with satellites, computers and medical miracles.

But this strength can also be a weakness when you close your mind to big picture and instead focus purely on end result. For example, let's say I wanted to develop a secondary income stream to help pay some extra bills. I decide that since Internet marketing is a relatively "cheap" way to enter business world, I'll develop a website that offers dog training books to dog owners via an affiliate program.

Three months go by and my site receives little traffic, and traffic it does receive is so unfocused that my sales conversion is horrible. Did I fail? In a black and white world, absolutely - I'm not making any money, thus I failed. But let's look at big picture a little closer, shall we?

During those three months while it's true that did not make any money, here's what I did do:

Here are four easy ways you can begin increasing your ownpersonal awareness. These methods are around you all daylong and you will not need to do anything different exceptslow down and ask question. Further down I'll explainwhy.

1. Listen to others communicate. It is easier for us toname what we don't want than what we do want. Since this isthe case, by listening to others converse, we can thendecide what we don't want. What language we don't want touse. What beliefs we don't want to have. What...etc. wedon't want to have. It is important to not stop there ifyou are finding your awareness through don't door. Ifyou are not coming through that door but instead enter through the‘I want’ door then by listening to others communicate, youcan decide what you do want in your life. Listen to others-- what they say and how they say it. Take notes on what youagree with and disagree with, or even neutral line --what you aren't sure about.