Random Thoughts on Self-Awareness — Feb. 1, 2022
What does it mean to be self-aware?
Something Cool I Saw Today…
Thoughts…
Hi there,
Does being self-aware just mean understanding one’s self from within? Or rather, understanding how the world views our weaknesses (and by proxy, strengths)?
To me, self-awareness has always been a difficult concept because at times while I do feel like I know the extent of my desires, I’m not always aligned with how the world perceives my actions or characteristics.
For example, in an exercise coined the Reflected Best Self, I asked several friends and colleagues to describe what I’m like when I’m at my best, pulling out specific attributes. While the results were not entirely surprising — I did not expect everything that was said. Had they indeed been very different, it would have prompted me to adjust my own self-image to align those two versions of myself (external vs. internal).
Every day, we’re faced with the challenge of balancing how we see ourselves versus how the world sees us. Sometimes, we give in to what we think the world wants to see from us. Other times, we act solely based on our own views, without seeking the perspectives of those around us. Neither is bad, in moderation. But at their extremes, we can become either narcissists (the more academic terms is “introspectors”), or people-pleasers.
For me personally, I try (read: I don’t always remember to) to check in with myself and understand the ‘why’ of my actions/thoughts?
What is causing this action? What is causing me to think this? Why am I feeling this way?
Additionally, I’m not afraid to seek insight — within reason. Whether it be friends or family, I try to sense-check with those around me who might especially have different viewpoints. Many times these people act as foils to my original thought process and in fact, show me a better option.
That doesn’t mean I always get everything right, or I’m acting in a self-aware manner all the time, but I definitely have felt a shift in my ability to make decisions, as well as lean into my strengths.
My suggestion to those who might struggle with their own balance of self-awareness:
- Practice Mindfulness: Whether through writing or meditation, recognizing your own thoughts is the first step to understanding the beliefs you hold about yourself
- Seek Feedback: You can do an exercise like the RBS, you can take psychological assessments, or you can directly ask for advice.
No matter what you choose to do, the most important to remember is that -
Self-awareness is a journey and not a destination, you have to work on it continuously.
Articles…
SHORT What Self-Awareness Really Is (and How to Cultivate It) [HBR]
Written by the psychologist who’s literally written the book on self-awareness and insight, this Harvard Business Review article explores the fact that many people do not exhibit self-awareness and the reasons why not. Additionally, Dr. Tasha Eurich explains that there are two different components to self-awareness and how leaders can better cultivate this self-awareness and achieve success.
…
LONG The Three Levels of Self-Awareness [Mark Manson]
More of a treatise of sorts, Mark starts off by giving his definition of self-awareness and then explaining some of the benefits. Then, he explores the “levels” of self-awareness that cover basic, service-level emotions to deeper narratives within our minds. Mark ends by not just giving advice on how to get more self-aware, but also making us question what to do with self-awareness in order to live meaningfully. A great article if you have time (there is also an option to listen to it).
A Picture…
Hope you enjoyed everything here. If you’d like to get this sent to your inbox, you can subscribe here.
As always, I’m always looking for better ways to do things, so let me know your thoughts. In the meantime…
Live, Laugh, and Learn.
Bas
P.S. Want more tips/advice on how to live your best life? You can listen to my podcast, “So I Was Thinking,” or join my fortnightly “Random Thoughts” newsletter (max 10 mins out of your day). Don’t forget to share this article if you found it helpful.
