We’re sitting at our wooden bench with our goose quill composing a list of traits we deem to be indisputably good in a friend, lover, colleague or family member.
What are some things we might put on this old-timey list? Probably words like “kind,” “loyal,” “generous” and “patient,” to name but a few.
Now let’s return to the present day. We’re sitting (or standing) at our desk typing up that very list. We’d probably jot down the same virtues we’d have scribbled down in 1100, but we might add some relatively new concepts.
On my list, I would certainly add “self-aware” as a quality of a person I’d want in my life — and a person I’d want to be.
But what precisely does it mean to be self-aware? How did self-awareness emerge as a venerable trait and how do you cultivate it?
Self awareness is a critical skill for professional and personal growth. It allows you to accurately assess your strengths weaknesses emotions and motivations. This self knowledge equips you to set meaningful goals, build stronger relationships and live a more fulfilling life. While some people are naturally more self aware, it is a skill that anyone can develop through consistent effort. In this article, we’ll explore proven methods for improving your self awareness.
What is Self Awareness?
Self awareness involves developing a clear perception of your personality, including your:
- Strengths and weaknesses
- Thought patterns
- Beliefs and biases
- Emotions
- Behaviors
- Relationships with others
It requires an honest self-assessment of your good and bad qualities. Self awareness enables you to understand the causes behind your feelings and actions. This self understanding allows you to better manage your thoughts emotions and behaviors. It also helps you recognize how your actions affect others.
Benefits of Improving Self Awareness
Cultivating self awareness provides many advantages:
- Make better decisions aligned with your values
- Identify areas for self improvement
- Build self confidence
- Strengthen personal and professional relationships
- Manage stress more effectively
- Achieve goals consistent with your abilities
- Balance your needs with those of others
- Continual professional and personal growth
Self awareness leads to self knowledge. And self knowledge is the foundation for making positive changes and living authentically.
Ways to Improve Your Self Awareness
Improving self awareness requires persistence and courage. It can be uncomfortable confronting your flaws and vulnerabilities. Here are proven techniques for enhancing self awareness:
Keep a Daily Journal
Journaling allows you to record your thoughts and feelings. Over time patterns emerge that provide insight into your emotional state, thought processes, behaviors and relationships. Some helpful journaling prompts include:
- What made me happy/upset today?
- What am I grateful for?
- How did I procrastinate today?
- When did I feel courageous/fearful?
- How was my mood different around certain people?
Review your journal regularly to reflect on your experiences, thoughts and behaviors.
Seek Feedback from Others
Asking others for candid feedback provides an outside perspective on your strengths, weaknesses and blind spots. This could include feedback from:
- Your manager on your job performance
- Colleagues on your teamwork skills
- Friends/family on your personality
- A mentor on your leadership potential
While difficult to hear at times, feedback from others offers valuable insights into how you are perceived.
Identify Your Values
Your values significantly impact your motivation and satisfaction. Self reflection to identify your core values helps you better understand your goals and desires. Ask yourself:
- What principles guide my life?
- What matters most to me?
- What fills me with purpose and meaning?
- What do I want my life legacy to be?
Make choices that align with your values to live an authentic life.
Read Fiction
Immersing yourself in novels and stories can expand your self awareness. As you engage with the narratives, characters, and ethical dilemmas, you learn more about the human experience. Seeing the world through different perspectives enhances emotional intelligence.
Practice Gratitude
Taking time for gratitude reflection helps reframe your mindset. Make it a daily habit to list things you are grateful for. This could be relationships, opportunities, health, nature, possessions etc. Gratitude builds humility and compassion.
Examine Your Knee-Jerk Reactions
Notice your instant reactions to daily events. Do you get angry when someone contradicts you? Defensive when given advice? Impatient in line? Tuning into these knee-jerk reactions provides clues to your triggers.
Practice Mindfulness Meditation
Simple mindfulness meditation helps build present moment awareness. Set aside 5-10 minutes daily to sit quietly and focus on your breath. Observe thoughts without judgement before gently returning focus to your breath. This self checking enhances emotional intelligence.
Developing self awareness takes courage, persistence and honesty. But the self knowledge gained allows you to live with purpose and authenticity. Start applying the techniques in this article to gain greater insight into your inner world. Self awareness leads to self improvement on your journey of growth.
Substitute some screen time with people time
“The average amount of time we spend alone gazing at our screens now surpasses our time in face-to-face contact,” says Well. “Science tells us that we need reflections to develop our sense of self in relation to others. As we spend more time alone and on our devices, we miss this essential human mirroring. The symptoms of lack of mirroring are becoming more apparent in our society: increases in anxiety, lack of empathy and intense self-objectification (as in the selfie craze). There’s a call — if not an urgent cry — for greater self-awareness and reflection.”
Be curious about who you are
“To be self-aware, a person needs to be curious about themselves,” says Ana Jovanovic, psychologist and life coach at Parenting Pod. “Our minds and bodies are territories for which we yet need road maps. Every person has some roads they do not wish to take, and some roads they feel are worth exploring. How far you’ll go in your journey of understanding yourself depends on what you’re ready to explore and experience.”
Increase your self-awareness with one simple fix | Tasha Eurich | TEDxMileHigh
How can I improve my self-awareness?
Certain strategies can help you build a greater sense of private self-awareness. For example, journaling, meditating, and practicing mindfulness can help you become more aware of your inner thoughts, feelings, and sensations.
What are the ways to healthify oneself?
The ways of a healthy living are such as maintaining a balanced diet, avoiding spicy and sugar containing food products, doing regular exercise, reducing junk food, practicing yoga, adequate hydration and proper sleep, good sleeping habits, consuming adequate amount of antioxidants in your diet, reducing stress, etc.
How do I become more self-aware?
To review, here are 10 ways to practice being more self-aware: More articles on self-awareness and how to become more self-aware: Start small. At fiorst, ask about something that’s not too big or threatening. 10 simple ways to improve your self-awareness immediately. Expert techniques from a professional psychologist.
How do you develop self-awareness?
Anyone can develop more self-awareness. It simply takes willingness and a little practice. Here are seven tips that can get you started: Keep a daily journal. Seek feedback from others. Identify your values. Read fiction. Practice gratitude. Examine your knee-jerk emotional reactions. Practice mindfulness meditation. 1. Keep a daily journal
