"لا يمكننا تغيير ما لسنا على علم به ومتى أصبحنا على علم لا نستطيع إلا أن نتغير"

Ever had a moment where you realized something so obvious and wondered how you missed it all along? That’s the crux of this idea. It’s like this: you can’t fix something you don’t know is broken. But once you see the cracks, not doing something about them becomes almost impossible.

This idea has roots in ancient philosophy and modern psychology alike. Think back to the days of Socrates. He was all about self-awareness, famously declaring that an unexamined life isn’t worth living. Fast forward to the present, and psychologists echo this sentiment, saying that growth starts with awareness.

Imagine you're in a dimly lit room. Everything seems fine until someone switches on a bright light, revealing dust and cobwebs. Suddenly, you can’t ignore the mess. You’re compelled to clean it up. That’s how awareness works. Once you see things clearly, change becomes the natural next step.

Let’s dig into a real-life example. Think about a person struggling with their finances. They keep getting deeper into debt but don’t understand why. Then one day, they sit down, look at their expenses, and realize they’re spending way too much on non-essentials—daily lattes, impulse online buys, you name it. This newfound awareness is like a lightbulb moment. They can’t unsee it. Because of this awareness, they start budgeting, cutting unnecessary costs, and gradually climb out of debt.

So, how do you harness this wisdom? Start by paying attention. Reflect on your habits, your reactions, your decisions. Journaling helps. Write down what you do and why you think you do it. Ask for feedback from trusted friends or mentors. They can see patterns you might miss. Once you spot the areas needing change, set small goals. Don’t overwhelm yourself. Little by little, you’ll notice big differences.

Let me tell you a story. Meet Sarah. She always felt tired, dragging through her days without fully understanding why. She blamed it on work, on stress, on everything but herself. One day, she decided to track her daily activities. She noted down everything—what she ate, how much she slept, her screen time. The result? She was shocked to see she was scrolling through social media late into the night, cutting into her sleep. This simple act of tracking made her aware. She couldn’t ignore the link between her late-night habits and her fatigue. Sarah started setting a bedtime alarm to remind her to wind down. Gradually, she reclaimed her energy and felt more alive.

So, next time you feel stuck, think about what’s really going on. Shine a light on your actions and habits. Once you see clearly, you’ll feel a nudge to change. It’s like waking up from a foggy dream—everything suddenly makes sense, and you can’t help but act on it.