Recognition of awareness ​

Realization does not come immediately. First comes the stage of ignoring the problem: the presence of the problem is not recognized, there is confidence in one's own worldview and actions. Signals about the problems start to come and accumulate, but there are not enough of them yet to make any changes.

Then a vague sense of wrongness appears. For example, a feeling of "jitter" from incorrect relationships between objects. There are enough signals accumulated for the problem to begin to "manifest". Usually, the incoming signals are still quite weak, but with proper monitoring/control, they can be detected and intervened upon. However, in reality, this rarely happens.

Further influx of signals and worsening of the situation (and in the absence of attention, it more often deteriorates than improves) leads the agent to think that it is necessary to look for the problem. Sometimes at this stage, the problem becomes apparent, for example, a person falls ill. For finding convenient problems, it is useful to rely on one's feelings: they serve as indicators of the problem. Practices like Eugene Gendlin's "focusing" are often applied to find even unclear problems.

Then agents look for a suitable problem description language, along with concepts. If the language and concepts are not chosen well enough, a person will experience feelings of wrongness or dissatisfaction, whereas a suitable set will bring a sense of relief, a "bingo". After that, the problem can finally be formulated.

After formulating the problem, stages of acceptance may follow, or the stages of Kübler-Ross. The Kübler-Ross model was created to describe how the acceptance of death occurs in terminally ill people. However, it generally also applies to the recognition of the problems that people diligently deny in themselves. After formulating the problem, a person may not even deny it but ignore it (if possible). Then, faced with the consequences of ignoring, they may vehemently deny the existence of the problem. This may be followed by anger, bargaining, and depression (although some stages may be skipped). Only then comes acceptance.

Acceptance of death in the original Kübler-Ross model is somewhat "definitive." But if the problem is less fatal, then a person, seemingly having acknowledged the existence of the problem, may still try to "deceive": solve the problem with the old familiar method (which has repeatedly failed to provide a solution). To avoid falling into this trap, it is important to monitor problem-solving methods. If there is a reversion to the old problem-solving method, strengthen the implementation control of the new method and ensure that the new method starts producing results and becomes automated.

This is how awareness occurs in the case of long-standing, outdated problems over long timeframes. There is a "momentaneous" realization at a moment, for example, when we see a value "spike" on a graph or another standout detail.

Furthermore, one of the fastest ways to realize something that was previously in the "blind spot" is to get help from others. It can be difficult for people to focus on themselves and their behavior, and therefore it may be difficult to realize something that is easily visible from the outside. This is why working with good mentors and coaches is so successful: first, they have experienced setbacks and have the appropriate qualifications, and secondly, it is easier for them to take an outside look at oneself.