Self-Aware Other-Aware, and God-Aware This simple acronym was not a panacea. But as Megan and the rest of our family developed the habit of channeling our thoughts, emotions, and actions through this grid, our relationships steadily improved. We found that the best way to implement the SOG Plan was to develop the habit of asking ourselves the following types of questions. Self-aware: How am I feeling and acting? More specifically … What am I feeling? (Typical answers: competitive, irritated, insecure, envious, embarrassed, defensive, frustrated, fearful, angry, hopeless) Why do I feel this way? (I failed at something. Didn’t get what I want. Fear I’ll lose something. Someone criticized me. Tried to control me. Betrayed me.) What am I inclined to do? (Assume I know more than others. Clam up. Speak too much or too forcefully. Accuse or justify. Press others to see things my way.) What will I do instead? (Listen patiently. Seek to understand. Avoid jumping to conclusions. Speak gently and graciously.) Other-aware: How am I affecting others? More specifically … What do others seem to be feeling? (Note their words, body language, tone of voice) What do others seem to need? Want? Fear? How am I impacting others? (Am I confusing, irritating, frustrating, hurting, judging, manipulating, or punishing them?) Is this really the best time to talk, counsel, or correct? How can I serve others? Look out for their interests? How can I demonstrate genuine love and forgiveness? God-aware: How is God involved? More specifically … Who is God? What is he like? What could he be up to in this situation? Am I acting in faith or unbelief? Do I trust in him or myself? What difference does the gospel make? How can I pray? What Scriptures can guide me? How can I show that I love, trust, and obey God above all things? These questions have many variations. The point is that we always need to be thinking three-dimensionally, to be self-aware, other-aware, and, most-importantly, God-aware. This is the essence of relational wisdom. It works
http://www.rw360.org/2013/04/28/the-sog-plan/