“I know myself.” You must have made this statement at some point. But do you really know yourself? Can you be an objective bystander to yourself and your actions? The answers to these questions would be a guide to helping you understand how self-aware you are. CLICK ON IMAGE TO READ MORE…
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Many people don’t fully understand what the term self-awareness is and what it demands of them.
Self-awareness goes
beyond knowing what colors suit you better or how you like taking your coffee. It’s not about knowing that you hate loud environments or that you don’t react well to coercion. It is a deeper understanding of yourself.The truth is that most people confuse self-consciousness for self-awareness. They might be similar concepts, but they have their differences. Self-consciousness is that ability to be aware of your environment and yourself. Self-awareness is a complex form of consciousness where you know yourself on a deeper plane.
“Man, know thyself.” This is a popular saying by well known Athenian philosopher, Socrates. When Socrates coined this aphorism, he was charging us to find ourselves. In this day and age, finding yourself has become a life skill for survival.
One of the earliest definitions of self awareness was coined in “A theory of Objective Self Awareness” by Duval and Wick Lund. In this book, self awareness is the ability to evaluate and compare our actions to our internal principles.
In simple terms, self awareness is the ability to look at your actions and the motivation behind them objectively.
Is there any need to be self-aware?
Yes, there is. There are many benefits to being self-aware.
- Emotional Intelligence
David Coleman, in his book on Emotional Intelligence, upholds self awareness. He sees it as one of the essential parts of emotional intelligence.
An emotionally intelligent person is not just self-aware. He has risen to the point where he is in control of his reactions and thoughts. Self awareness helps you build yourself to that point where you master your emotions. This would help you react to things more maturely.
- Self awareness accelerates growth
Self awareness is a way to look at your actions objectively. With this, you can tell what parts of your life need more work to be better. What is growth if not getting better? Self awareness is one of the greatest tools for self-growth.
- Making your dreams, a reality becomes easier
Everyone has goals, but not everyone knows how to get there. Half of knowing how to get your goals is to know yourself. This is where self awareness comes in. It opens your eyes to your weakness and strengths and helps you maximize both. Taking risks and making decisions would become easier for you.
How Do You Become Self-Aware
There are steps you can take to ensure you become self aware.
- Daily self reflection
Reflecting on your actions at the end of every day can help you know yourself better. You have a clear picture of the places where you need improvement. In addition to that, it keeps you aware of your mistakes the next time you’re about to repeat them.
- Mindfulness
Mindfulness is a great way to be self aware. It is a constant consciousness of your actions even as they are taken. This helps you control your reactions, even before they occur.
- See yourself through the eyes of others.
It’s important not to let how people view you cloud the way you see yourself. However, self awareness might need you to see yourself through another lens. These lenses might belong to your family members or closest friends. The way they see you helps you take an objective stand towards your actions. You also get to see how your actions hurt the people around you.
We learn about ourselves every day, and self awareness is a great way to do that. Being self aware helps us live a balanced and healthy lifestyle. It reduces toxicity and prepares us better for whatever curve balls life through.