This is where self-awareness comes in, as psychiatrist Marcelle J. Craig. Craig explains: “Self-awareness is about looking at your identity in a way that acknowledges how you affect others and how they affect you.” It also involves understanding your emotions and inner thoughts, allowing you to live a fulfilling life; it is the first step to change and progress.
Effective Ways to Become More Self-Aware
Self-awareness is a practice. Learning to be self-conscious is a lifelong journey, and it's never too late to start. Here are some therapist-approved tips for understanding yourself and who you really are:
1. Find new experiences
One of the best ways to promote self-awareness is to engage in new experiences, as this will allow you to step out of your comfort zone and give you a chance to learn how to behave, think, and feel in unusual situations. Moreover, it creates opportunities to discover more positive qualities about you.
The comfort zone is a usual space, the psychological state in which you act without thinking about what you are doing, and you can predict all your thoughts and feelings. Therefore, only a tiny part of your personality is manifested.
Fortunately, a new experience doesn't have to be complicated or expensive. It can be as simple as trying out a new hobby, chatting with new people, or visiting a neighboring city. Whatever you choose to do, these experiences will help you gain new horizons about yourself.
2. Ask others for feedback about yourself
Getting to know yourself often means taking a new step, so ask someone you trust - such as a brother or close friend - to share their perspective on your attitudes, traits, or behaviors. It can help you recognize the matters you do and say and how others see you, so you can then use this information to explore which aspects you would like to change or improve.
Keischa Pruden, a mental health consultant, says: “Sometimes, an external perspective is necessary to dispel negative thought patterns or reinforce positive ones.”
Accepting feedback isn't easy, so remind yourself that very constructive feedback isn't an attack on who you are as a person, but it's a valuable tool that guides progress and self-development. As you do so, do your best to listen fully without taking a defensive stance, and it will make it easier for the other person to provide real honest feedback.
3. Identify what triggers your negative feelings
Understanding what makes you angry, sad, nervous, or jealous can have a profound effect on boosting self-awareness, and the reason is that when you realize what triggers your negative emotions, you can become more selective about the people, places, and situations you choose to deal with, as Pruden says. It also helps you become more aware of how you respond to your environment and the things you can't control.
Pruden recommends examining any situation, person, or thing that triggers negative emotions to learn more about what motivates you. For example, you could ask yourself: “What did the other person say that made me happy? How did I react? Is that something I want to feel constantly?” You can then use your answers to make good decisions to live peacefully.
4. Put your opinions and beliefs in doubt
“Challenging your opinions and beliefs is a great way to get to know yourself,” says Pruden. It increases your awareness of your thoughts along with biases and behaviors that flow from those thoughts. It is not about trying to prove you wrong, but it is about realizing that you can change your opinions and beliefs and give yourself a chance to progress.
Pruden suggests that if you are not sure where to start, ask yourself questions like, “What triggered my opinion? Is this opinion helpful to me or to those I love? Is there any truth in my opinion?” Asking these questions will allow you to identify and evaluate your thought patterns.
5. Be clear about your core values
Your core values are the principles that guide your life. They are the reason behind everything you say and do, and when it comes to promoting self-awareness, identifying those values is essential. “When you are clear about your values, you will know more about what you are looking for in life, as well as, what you are not looking for,” says Craig. On the other hand, you have noticed that if you are not clear about your values, you will be involved in things that do not work for you and may be unhealthy.
To illustrate your core values, Craig says, “Think about times when you have felt happy, elevated, and empowered in your life,” as this can help you recognize what is most important to you and, ultimately, guide yourself in the future.
6. Write your diary
Pruden says, “Journaling is an excellent way to increase self-awareness.” In fact, it's the perfect way to explore other strategies on this list. For example, when you write down negative emotions, you can re-examine scenarios and identify common triggers they trigger. “Journaling can also help you challenge your thoughts,” says Craig, because it's easy to perceive yourself saying incorrect statements on paper (as opposed to thinking about them unconsciously). Moreover, Craig adds that as you reread your diary, you will be able to see how far you've come.
Remember that there is no right or wrong way to write a diary, so feel free to try different daily methods to develop self-awareness.
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