My guest is Marine Corps Lt. Colonel Ann Bernard, who as head of 365 Firsts currently advocates for getting out of our infamous comfort/familiarity zones to try new and exciting adventures. Interestingly enough, she says much of our wherewithal in that regard comes from self-awareness. Now, I fully realize 'self-awareness' is one of those terms that may mean different things to different people, but in this episode you're in for one of the clearest and most direct descriptions of it ever. In addition to finding out the practical elements of it, you'll discover the symptoms of lacking self-awareness...and how a scary amount of guys don't even realize they do (which makes sense, if you think about it). So then, is this all related to identity, maturity and some of the other concepts we talk about frequently around here or is it something else completely? Can you actually have too much self-awareness? I mean, wouldn't that lead to self-consciousness (which is different!) and hyper-analysis issues? And on that note, what is the difference between self-awareness and self-concept? How is self-awareness related to the all-important element of confidence? Why is self-awareness a must for attracting women? How should we deal with 'haters'? What is so important about trying new things for the first time? How does all of this make us both better listeners AND better storytellers? Get the action-packed daily newsletter, your free copy of Sticking Points Solved and sign up for a free 25-minute introductory call when you visit https://mountaintoppodcast.com === HELP US SEND THE MESSAGE TO GREAT MEN EVERYWHERE === We'll keep the solid, actionable content coming...all for free. If you love what you hear, please give us a 'thumbs up' by rating the show (takes one second) and leaving us a review. As we say here in Texas, we appreciate you!