Self-Awareness - Do You Have It?
You may not think about it often, but are you self-aware? Do you have self-awareness?
Often people think they have it – but really, most of us don’t.
And, while you might not think about it often, you’ve probably heard yourself say, “She totally lacks self-awareness!” It seems to be thrown out when someone just doesn’t seem to see themselves as we see them.
But is it fair to say that? Especially when studies have shown that most of us don’t really have self-awareness.
Let’s delve a little deeper into self-awareness – and then look at some tips for improving our own!
What Is Self-Awareness?
There are two types of self-awareness: internal and external.
Internal Self-Awareness, according to Tasha Eurich in her article, “What Self-Awareness Really Is (and How to Cultivate It),” represents: how clearly we see our own values, passions, aspirations, fit with our environment, reactions (including thoughts, feelings, behaviors, strengths, and weaknesses), and impact on others.
External Self-Awareness (also defined by Tasha Eurich) means: understanding how other people view us, in terms of those same factors listed above.
And yes, we need both in order to be successful!
So how are we going to improve upon it?
Tips for Improving Your Self-Awareness
Show Empathy
Show empathy – Yes, showing empathy not only helps others, but it helps you, too. It makes you more sympathetic to what others are going through and, in turn, helps your own self-awareness because you can recognize this.
Be Flexible
2. Be flexible – At times, all of us are inflexible. Whether it be with deadlines, goals, plans – you name it! But flexibility is a key thing in self-awareness. Know that few things are written in stone – and having the ability to adapt and change is critical.
Have Confidence
3. Have confidence, but not arrogance – I want you to ALWAYS be confident. Always! You are strong, smart, and highly capable! But there can sometimes be a fine line between confidence and arrogance. Arrogance is often shown when we exaggerate our capabilities or come across as self-important.
Practice Mindfulness
4. Practice mindfulness – Mindfulness has been a hot topic lately – and it certainly comes into play when talking about self-awareness. We need to be mindful of our actions, our body language, our thoughts, and our words. Both our internal and external self-awareness benefit from mindfulness.
Be Patient
5. Be patient – We live in a world where everyone wants everything, and they want it NOW – me included sometimes. But like flexibility, patience is something you need to be self-aware of – patience with yourself – and with others.
Show Kindness
6. Show kindness – You’ve all heard the phrase, “In a world where you can be anything, be kind.” Remember this. Even in the most difficult of situations, kindness can go a long way.
Remain Focused
7. Remain focused – Distractions are everywhere. They can come at us anytime – and from numerous directions. And when you find yourself distracted, then it’s time to reconnect with your focus – whether it be a person, place, or thing.
Be Aware of Your Triggers
8. Be aware of your triggers – Do you know what triggers you? Slow drivers? A co-worker waiting 48 hours to respond to your email? Your spouse leaving their dirty socks on the floor? Triggers can be big or small things (more often, they’re small), but when you’re aware of them, you can be more mindful.
Apologize When Needed
9. Apologize when needed – We’ve all known that person who apologizes for NOTHING! They never do anything wrong. EVER. Don’t be that person. A sincere apology is a sign of respect – not a sign of weakness.
Be Open to Feedback
10. Be open to feedback – Nobody likes to hear negative things about themselves, but if we want to grow and learn – and be better – then we need to be open to feedback. Don’t be afraid to ask for it. It can be immensely helpful for you to hear what others think.
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This year, as you work to become more self-aware – which of these ten tips do you think can help you the most? Which one do you think you’ll struggle with? Leave me a comment or DM me and let me know!
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