Self-knowledge is theability to see oneself clearly and objectively through reflection and introspection.
While it may not be possible to achieve total objectivity about oneself, there is a spectrum of self-awareness. In fact, self-knowledge consists ofunderstanding oneselfin order to achieve your goals.
Although we all think we know each other well,many people may not know each other thoroughly. At the present moment, we don’t know exactly why some people seem to have more or less self-knowledge than others.
Therefore, in this article we will explore consciousness and discover what self-knowledge is.
What is self-knowledge?
Self-knowledge isfundamental to determiningwho you are. However, it’s not something you’re very focused on at all times. Self-knowledgedevelops in your inner and outer personality. That is, how you think and how you see the world and how you act before other beings.
Note: We all have some degree of self-knowledge and awareness, even babies. Self-knowledgeincludes many variants.
In the same way, self-knowledgeallows us to know our tastes, our desires, our fears, our dark side and our goodness. Also know what our values are and what we expect from ourselves and others.
What are the stages of self-knowledge?
Self-knowledgeconsists of several stages of self-developmentto become self-aware, including thoughts, actions, ideas, feelings, and interactions with other people. It develops through sensory sources and memory, self-exploration and social experiences. It also involves the following aspects:
1. Self-perception
Daryl Bem’s self-perceptionTheorymaintains that a person’s personality and attitudes drive their actions and that they can be self-perceived (1)tag. In simple terms, it illustrates thatwe are what we dotag. According to this theory, we interpret our own actions the way we interpret those of others.
To highlight: Often our actions are socially influenced and do not occur out of our own free will, as we might think.
2. Self-observation
Self-observation is a Mindfulness Practicein which you turn your attention inward and observe without judging what you think, feel, and do. One thing you can do to see it clearly is to write down all the thoughts that come into your head on a piece of paper and neutrally describe yourthoughts, emotions, and sensations.
Note: Now imagine that you can silently observe yourself in the present tense and pay attention to what is happening inside of you.
3. Autobiographical memory
Autobiographical memory is, according to Robyn Fivush and Matthew E. Graci in their book Learning and Memory: A Comprehensive Reference , it is a Mixture of memories that are created from each person’s life (2)tag. Autobiographical memoryis formed over the years , through experiences, the construction of stories about oneself and an identity that arises in adolescence.
You should know: These memories, together, come to form our own idea on which we define ourselves and how we regulate emotions.
4. Self-esteem
In psychology, the term self- esteem is used to describe a person’s personal worthtag. That is, how much you appreciate and like yourself. Self-esteem involves avariety of beliefs about oneself , such as evaluation of one’s appearance, beliefs, emotions, and behaviors.
5. Self-acceptance
Unlike self-esteem, which refers specifically to how valuable we see ourselves, self-acceptance is closely related to self- image and refers to a much more global affirmation of oneself .
Important: When we accept ourselves, we can accept all facets of our personality, our body and our abilities.
What are the characteristics of self-awareness?
There are several typical characteristics shared by people who recognize themselves well and who have developed good self-knowledge , such as having higher self-esteem, being more sure of themselves and their decisions, keeping their word and achieving their goals.
However, there are also Characteristics of Self-Knowledge , such as the ones you can see in the following points :
1. It is a basic tool in personal development
Self-knowledge is the Solid Foundation of Personal Developmenttag. If you don’t know yourself well, it will be impossible to set goals and know your limits. That is, you cannot set unattainable goals, that is why it is importantto know your potential and know what your limits are.
To highlight: Also, knowing yourself is the basis for building self- love and self-esteem. This will help you to be less demanding of yourself, and in turn, to demand what is necessary to meet your goals .
2. Allows for greater integration of mind and body
In the study, practitioners expressed a preference for the term ”
And it is that according to this study, it was discovered that body awareness is inseparable from its functions and all other aspects of self-awareness.
3. It is related to self-respect and respect for others
According to Brenda Ellington Booth, a professor of business administration enNorthwestern University , great leaders know themselves very welltag. When you know your abilities, strengths, limitations, and weaknesses, you can openly admit them, compensate, and find solutions. Self-improvement and asking others for help is the most authentic.
You should know: Leaders who understand this manage to develop greater respect for others, since you strengthen yourself with internal affirmations, not with the approval of others.
The objective, then, begins to be to Give One’s Best and help others or develop greater compassion.
4. Allows you to develop self-control
Self-awareness is our ability to perceive our level of skill , knowledge, and responsibility when it comes to our emotions.
Note: As we get to know each other better, we know our limits and, thanks to this, we are able to set ourselves new challenges and goals, since we feel more confident with our strengths and we know that we will be able to achieve it .
For example, if a person who does not know their weaknesses and does not know that one of their greatest weaknesses is accepting other people’s criticism and this year intends to hold a public office, to which they will be exposed to criticism, they will have less chance of achieving their objectives. since I didn’t know its limitations at first.
5. Allows you to deal with different situations
When you know yourself well and know what the worst case scenario is, there’s nothing you can’t handle. You know how to find the light in the dark and you become a real fighter. It is likely that you have even had to live what you believe is theMost difficult moment of your life and that gave you a high level of self-knowledge.
So now you know what your pain tolerance is, and that makes you a stronger person and capable of facing any situation.
How to reinforce self-awareness?
Now that you know why self-awareness is important to improve your life,it’s time for you to learn how to cultivate it. There are several ways to reinforce self-awareness.
Developing self-knowledge is not an impossible task, for this, you can do different activities: meditate , and practice mindfulness, among others. Here are some tips:
1. Acknowledge and accept emotions
Acknowledging and accepting our emotions is a Fundamental part of self-awarenesstag. Learning to tolerate our emotions, both good and bad, can unlock a wealth of insights about ourselves and our world if we are willing to pay full attention.
2. Bodily locate emotions
Learn to recognize how some emotions affect your bodytag. Many times it can happen that a headache is due to going through a stressful situation. As well as a chest or stomach pain, it could be due to a situation that generates fear.
You should know: The body tends to somatize and the mind can transfer some negative experiences to the body.
3. Determine the elements that trigger emotions
We all have certain emotions that we particularly disliketag. And more often than not, that means we try really hard to avoid feeling that emotion. The problem is that being so afraid of an emotion can haveQuite negative consequences in the long term.
Also, by avoiding emotion we are avoiding learning more about ourselves. It is important to recognize what elements or situations trigger those emotions and why those particular emotions bother us so much.
4. Reflect on strengths and weaknesses
If you still don’t know what your strengths and weaknesses are, you can make a list with 5 strengths and 5 weaknesses. If you’re not sure, don’t hesitate to ask loved ones and trusted ones, such as your friends, family or partner.
5. Know the hobbies and passions
This point is easy and also speaks a lot about oneself. What things do you like? , Sports, books, parties, walks? Also think about which topics attract your attention the most: astrology, science, religion, politics, music, movies, art… AnalyzeWhy you like your hobbies and your favorite topics .
6. Asking others to describe us
Nothing is sometimes as efficient as the disinterested opinion of otherstag. Ask your loved ones and trusted ones such as your friends, your family or your partner to describe you, with your pros and cons. Let them tell youwhat you should work on and what you are already goodat, what they like most about you and what they dislike most about you. Listen to them without judging, you can learn a lot from this.
7. Practice the wheel of life
The wheel of life is a Personal Coaching Strategy that can help you detect, through a graphic vision, the aspects that make up your life and the degree of satisfaction and balance you feel regarding this.
To highlight: There are applications such as The Wheel of Life APK and Life Wheel, which allow you to do it from the app. Anyway, you can download a wheel from the internet and print it. You just have to color each section according to your satisfaction judgment.
What is the importance of self-awareness?
Self-knowledge is an important tool, because when we have a better understanding of ourselves, we can know ourselves as unique individualstag. Furthermore, we have the power tomake changes and develop our areas of strength, as well as identify areas in which we would like to improve.
Important:Self-awarenessallows us to make positive behavior changesthat can lead to greater personal success. Self- knowledge is also considered anImportant quality for mental health .
University Professional in the area of Human Resources, Postgraduate in Occupational Health and Hygiene of the Work Environment, 14 years of experience in the area of health. Interested in topics of Psychology, Occupational Health, and General Medicine.