Greeting someone by name is one of the most basic and influential social awareness strategies you can adopt.

When you enter the room, scan it and notice whether you feel and see energy or quiet, subdued calm. Take notice of how people are arranging themselves—alone or in groups. Are they talking and moving their hands? Are some more animated than others? What is your gut telling you about them?

The key to observing the ripple effects of your emotions is to watch closely how they impact other people immediately, and then use that information as a guide for how your emotions are bound to affect a wider circle long after you unleash the emotion.

Suspending judgment of emotions allows them to run their course and vanish. Passing judgment on whether you should or shouldn’t be feeling what you are feeling just heaps more emotions on top of the pile and prevents the original feeling from running its course.

Self-management is your ability to use your awareness of your emotions to stay flexible and direct your behavior positively.

Part of self-awareness is knowing what you’re going through even if you can’t totally change it.

Intelligence is your ability to learn, and it’s the same at age 15 as it is at age 50.

In addition to helping you see yourself more clearly, writing down your emotions makes your tendencies much easier to remember, and the journal serves as a great reference as you raise your self-awareness.

It feels so good when people use your name and remember it.