Self awareness involves being conscious of who you are and how you will react in certain situations but it's also more than that.
What is Self Awareness
Self awareness is achieved by reflecting on your intentions and your actions. It is being aware of your own emotions and how to channel them in order to achieve what you want from life. So many of us re-act to life. Awareness of our selves enables us to be pro-active and therefore more in control of our life course. Self awareness stems from reflection, on trying to understand what we do and how we might do it differently to achieve greater success.
Self awareness involves self knowledge when we know ourselves we learn to trust ourselves and rely on our own judgment rather than the judgment of others.
How Do We Develop Self Awareness
One way of achieving self awareness is to take the time to think things through. So often in today's world everything carries on at such a pace that it is much easier to say I haven't the time or I can't be bothered. If we stop to reflect on things we recognize that it is not time that is the problem but the way we view it and use it. The problem is that we get so caught up in the everyday happenings of our lives that we just don't take the time to reflect.
When you reflect you look back over the happenings of your life in an attempt to discover how you have become the person you are. Unless we develop self awareness then we cannot change things and develop our full potential. Carl Rogers, who developed person centred counseling believed that everyone had within themselves the means to develop their full potential but in order to do that they had to develop a positive self concept.
We develop a positive understanding of who we are by doing things that we are happy with or successful at. Experience teaches us that when we do things that give pleasure not just to ourselves but to others then we are less stressed and happier. It makes us feel not only that what we are doing is worthwhile but that we ourselves are worthwhile. Part of self awareness is a recognition of the intrinsic value not just of ourselves but of others.
Techniques For Greater Self Awareness
We have already discussed the importance of reflection to becoming self aware but there are other things that we can do to develop this quality in ourselves. In the East there is a greater recognition of the quality of self awareness and this is often achieved through the practice of yoga and meditation. Buddhist monks for example have to learn to meditate to develop a taste for silence.
Meditation comes in many forms. Transcendental meditation, for example relies on the reciting of a mantra or sacred phrase. Christians, Muslims and Jews also recognize the benefits of meditation and contemplation and how this leads to greater self knowledge. A more recent tool in developing self awareness is cognitive therapy where we take greater control over out thinking processes and try to correct thoughts that are erroneous.
Finally, rediscover what is important to you. One way of doing this is to keep a journal. Many more people are now recognizing the benefits of journaling. Here you can record your thoughts, chart your progress and decide what you see as important. When you decide what is important in your life then you have an idea of what you value. Knowing what you value in life is a vital tool in self awareness and success. When we know what our values are, then it is much easier to chart a path in life that adds to our personal growth and happiness.
The Benefits of Self Awareness
When you become self aware you grow as a person. You develop self-acceptance and this in turn makes you more accepting of others. You become more self reliant and self motivated. These are the qualities that help you to continue growing as a person and to be successful in your chosen field.
Related Articles
Rising Above Mediocrity Today
By: Patric Chan | 10/12/2007 | Self Improvement
Sometimes going the extra mile can make all the difference between being just plain average and excelling.
Guilt, Is It Healthy, And How Can I Overcome It?
By: Kevin Sinclair | 23/01/2007 | Advice
Guilt is a natural human emotion that causes you to scrutinize your actions and feel remorse for the things that you have either purposely or unknowingly caused. Guilt is also a feeling you may encounter when your actions have caused pain or grief to another person.
How Fear Impacts On Our Lives
By: Kevin Sinclair | 20/02/2007 | Advice
Fear. It is something everyone has experienced at some point in time during their lives. Brief moments, like someone cutting in front of you with a car, a bully at school, even something as mundane as whether or not you've passed a class. They happen for all of us and for some of us, fear can be more than a brief moment, it can be an all consuming emotional disability.
The Paralysis of Looking Back
By: Randy Laboy | 22/03/2008 | Motivational
It's good to evalute your choices and learn from your mistakes, but don't dwell to long or you risk becoming paralyzed and sabotaging your chances for a successful future.
Hypnosis Uncovered - the Mystery of Hypnosis Revealed
By: Trina Panormo | 30/07/2008 | NLP Hypnosis
Revealing the mystery surrounding hypnosis. This article provides an explanation of hypnosis, tapping into our unconscious mind, and what actually happens when someone is hypnotised
Dealing With Frustration - Practical Information
By: Kevin Sinclair | 06/03/2007 | Advice
Frustration has many forms and varying degrees to it but no matter what degree or form it takes, it is not a positive emotion.
The 1-2-3 Step Process of Self Improvement
By: Andrew Chin | 27/04/2007 | Motivational
The self improvement process involves steps that will not likely be acheived without the accomplishment of their preceding steps.
How to Create Abundance in your Life
By: Kevin Sinclair | 29/12/2006 | Advice
The reason so many people in society are unable to achieve abundance in their lives is purely because of their mindsets. That's right, it's not their salary or their heritage, it is all to do with their own thoughts and feelings.
Got a Question? Ask.
Ask the community a question about this article:
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are most people afraid ..........
By: mastershark02 | 06-11-2007
Why are most people afraid to ask for help from others when that is the only way to get help with the issues that are binding the individual?
Credit repair
By: choice123 | 15-10-2007
what laws and statuets protect someone in the state of georgia / in repairing credit for others.??
Government Control in the Retail Sector
By: ritetoankita | 09-10-2007
Have the government policies ,adopted in the post-liberalization period, contributed to the growth of the retail industry in the last 15 years? Have they done more good or more bad?
When I have to be around a group of people I get ...
By: clbriggs82 | 17-09-2007
when I have to be around a group of people I get extremely nervous and I don't know what to do or say, so I don't say anything which makes me appear to be very stand-offish, and most of the time those people will call me on it and say things like " you sure are quiet" or " smile" which makes me feel worse and more tense. please tell me how to be calm and actually initiate conversation with people or any advice at all. Thank you
How do I estimate the impact of Internet on the ...
By: boaz | 13-07-2007
How do I estimate the impact of Internet on the economic growth in Israel? any references for information will be great also
I am looking for SMB market size
By: stego | 15-06-2007
I am looking for information on the SMB or SOHO market size worldwide per country or region and thier yearly growth rates. Anybody can share these info will be great.
Q&A Powered by:
Latest Motivational Articles
Achieve the Life You Desire With the Universal Law of Attraction
By: Danette Hibberd | 21/08/2008
If you find that something is missing in your life then you just might have found the answer here. Universal laws govern the universe and these basic principles of life have been around since the very onset of creation itself.
Supporting Those Who Support Others
By: Catherine Harvey | 21/08/2008
A look at how charities, with the support of larger corporations, help disadvantaged and disabled children to have a better quality of life.
Mastering Your Mind Power: are Affirmations Really True?
By: Harold L Lowe | 20/08/2008
Affirmations are as true as the seeds you plant in your garden. Even though you cannot physically see the fruits of your labor immediately, you know that a harvest already pre-exists in the seeds.
You Can Make Social Security Obsolete
By: Robert | 20/08/2008
Learn how to create your own financial nest egg and retire early with easy to use principles that are changing peoples lives.
Positive Expectancy - the Mindset of Achievers
By: David Schaefer | 20/08/2008
An absolutely crucial ingredient toward the accomplishment of any worthwhile endeavor is the mindset that you can and will achieve the results you want. The person who practices the attitude of positive expectancy has a greater likelihood of achieving desired results than the individual who even unintentionally acts with negative expectancy.
Self-motivation – Set the Foundation
By: David Schaefer | 20/08/2008
How to get motivated and stay motivated is a fascinating and powerful topic that, when understood and properly implemented, can positively change the course of one’s results. Mindset is 99% of the necessary action.
Visualizing Accelerates Goal Achievement
By: David Schaefer | 20/08/2008
The use of visualization is one of the most effective ways to accelerate the achievement of a goal, but it is probably the most under-utilized success tool available. In a Harvard study, researchers discovered that students who visualized in advance of anticipated tasks performed with nearly 100% accuracy when tested.
Positive Self-talk is an Effective Success Tool
By: David Schaefer | 20/08/2008
For practically every habit you want to change, you can create a better, more productive Self-Talk that will advance desired change and results. Learn how to properly feed your brain with right thoughts and words, and you will discover a powerful method for positively impacting your life forever.
More from Kevin Sinclair
What Is The Best Way To Drive Targeted Traffic To Your Website?
By: Kevin Sinclair | 21/08/2008 | Internet Marketing
The biggest challenge which search engine marketers face is the deceptively simple question of how to get more traffic to a website. Getting the targeted traffic that your site needs takes a lot of work - and there is no one right way to get it.
Can Your Web Based Business Survive Without You?
By: Kevin Sinclair | 20/08/2008 | Home Business
What if you were to need major surgery on short notice? Would your internet business from home be able to cope? If you have been in the internet marketing business for a while, then you are likely already producing a sizable revenue stream without having to do anything - but if you are not, then having to take time off could be a real problem.
A Wave File Is A Wave File
By: Kevin Sinclair | 20/08/2008 | Music
People in the recording industry spend a lot of time thinking about the best way to produce recordings in order to get the best possible sound onto CD. Engineers and other professionals work on mixing wave files using various techniques in the attempt to create a great finished product.
What Is Search Engine Optimization (SEO)?
By: Kevin Sinclair | 19/08/2008 | SEO
Search engine optimization (SEO) are various methods which are used in order to improve the search engine ranking of a website. So what is search engine ranking? This is the position on the list of results which a search engine return for a given keyword.
Learning To Cope With And Get Rid Of Stress And Panic
By: Kevin Sinclair | 19/08/2008 | Advice
Stress and panic seem to come with everyday life for many of us and learning to control and cope with this can mean less time in the doctor's office being sick. Stress is not something to turn your nose up at because if it is not treated it can lead to serious illnesses and possibly diseases.
What Is Web 2.0 - A Definition
By: Kevin Sinclair | 18/08/2008 | Technology
Web 2.0 is as yet something of a nebulous term, with as many different definitions out there as people defining it. This naturally can lead to some confusion. O'Reilly Media, an American company who have been one of the leaders in web development book publishing since the internet was in its infancy, came up with the term in a 2003 meeting.
Learning How To Play The Guitar
By: Kevin Sinclair | 17/08/2008 | Music
Learning to play the guitar is an aspiration that many people have. Unfortunately knowing how to play the guitar correctly can be more difficult than you had expected. This is why many people give in after only a few lessons. The same applies for many different musical instruments.
Guru Tactics And What They Really Mean
By: Kevin Sinclair | 16/08/2008 | Home Business
If you're in the internet marketing field, "guru" is a word you probably hear a lot of. In fact, you are probably well aware of who these gurus are. While most of them are very personable and nice, there are some who are quite the opposite. Even the nicest among them will employ the following tactics.
Self Improvement 
| Posted: 24-11-2006 | Comments: 
