The work and program of MARKED could be summarized in one word: self-awareness strengthening. For us, self-awareness entails consciously recognizing one's strengths, interests, and lessons learned from life experiences, skills in handling emotions and understanding one's mind, the ability to build meaningful relationships, and skills to sustain them. Self-awareness to us is recognizing one's uniqueness and understanding humanity. It's realizing that while no one else has walked in your shoes, everyone fundamentally operates under similar principles. As individuals learn why they are unique and valuable, their empathy naturally develops, making it easier to accept diversity around them. Self-awareness also brings clarity to life through acquiring new skills. By understanding emotions and their relevance, we can develop a gentler relationship with them as we learn to manage them.
Understanding how the mind works helps us realize that comparison isn't a measure of good self-esteem but a natural inclination for humans. The skills gained through self-awareness bring lightness, clarity, and a sense of control over one's life. It's understanding that there's nothing wrong with oneself, but rather an opportunity to learn necessary skills. However, self-awareness isn't solely for oneself. We explore ourselves to realize how much we have to offer to others. This can strengthen one's sense of purpose in life, which research shows correlates with increased resilience, optimism, hopefulness, and success in academic or professional endeavors. In short, supporting self-awareness isn't just a gift to the individual; it positively impacts the surrounding world. Supporting a young person's self-awareness is key to a flourishing future.
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