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Self-awareness: My Experience on Path to Better Me

Categories: About Myself Personality Self Awareness

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Words: 742 |

Published: Dec 3, 2020

Words: 742 | Page: 1 | 4 min read

Development of my self-awareness, zimmer's principles of self-awareness, works cited.

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Gardner, H. (2011). Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences. Basic Books.
Goleman, D. (2012). Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ. Bantam.
Maslow, A. H. (2013). Toward a Psychology of Being. Martino Fine Books.
Riggio, R. E. (2018). Introduction to Industrial/Organizational Psychology (8th ed.). Pearson.
Tolle, E. (2004). The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment. New World Library.
Vohs, K. D., & Baumeister, R. F. (Eds.). (2011). Handbook of Self-Regulation: Research, Theory, and Applications (2nd ed.). Guilford Press.
Zimmer, E. (Speaker). (2010). Erik Zimmer: "Gamify Your Life" [TED Talk]. TED. https://www.ted.com/talks/erik_zimmer_gamify_your_life

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109 Self-Awareness Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

Inside This Article

Self-awareness is a crucial skill that allows us to understand ourselves, our emotions, and our behavior. It is the key to personal growth and self-improvement. Writing an essay on self-awareness can help you explore your thoughts and feelings, and gain a deeper understanding of yourself.

To help you get started, here are 109 self-awareness essay topic ideas and examples:

The importance of self-awareness in personal development
How self-awareness can improve your relationships
The role of self-awareness in leadership
Ways to develop self-awareness
Reflecting on your strengths and weaknesses
Recognizing your emotions and how they impact your behavior
How self-awareness can lead to better decision-making
The benefits of self-awareness in the workplace
Overcoming barriers to self-awareness
The connection between self-awareness and emotional intelligence
Using mindfulness to increase self-awareness
The impact of self-awareness on mental health
How self-awareness can help you set and achieve goals
The relationship between self-awareness and self-esteem
Exploring your values and beliefs
Recognizing and challenging your self-limiting beliefs
The role of self-awareness in personal growth
Reflecting on your past experiences and how they have shaped you
The connection between self-awareness and authenticity
How self-awareness can improve your communication skills
Recognizing patterns in your behavior and thought processes
The impact of self-awareness on self-care practices
Using journaling as a tool for self-reflection
The role of feedback in increasing self-awareness
Exploring your identity and sense of self
Understanding your triggers and how to manage them
The connection between self-awareness and empathy
How self-awareness can improve your conflict resolution skills
Recognizing and managing your stress levels
The benefits of self-awareness in decision-making
Reflecting on your values and how they align with your actions
The impact of self-awareness on your physical health
Using self-awareness to enhance your creativity
Exploring your unconscious biases and prejudices
The connection between self-awareness and self-acceptance
Recognizing your communication style and how it affects your relationships
The role of self-awareness in building resilience
How self-awareness can help you navigate change and uncertainty
Reflecting on your goals and aspirations
The impact of self-awareness on your self-confidence
Using meditation as a tool for self-reflection
Exploring your fears and insecurities
Recognizing your values and how they guide your decisions
The connection between self-awareness and self-discipline
How self-awareness can improve your problem-solving skills
Reflecting on your achievements and areas for improvement
The role of self-awareness in building emotional resilience
Recognizing your strengths and how to leverage them
The benefits of self-awareness in conflict resolution
Exploring your emotions and how to regulate them
The connection between self-awareness and self-compassion
How self-awareness can improve your listening skills
Recognizing and managing your triggers
The impact of self-awareness on your mental well-being
Using self-awareness to cultivate gratitude and mindfulness
Exploring your values and how they shape your identity
Reflecting on your communication patterns and how to improve them
The role of self-awareness in building healthy relationships
How self-awareness can improve your self-care practices
Recognizing and challenging your negative self-talk
The benefits of self-awareness in personal growth and development
Exploring your beliefs and how they influence your behavior
The connection between self-awareness and self-regulation
Using reflection as a tool for self-discovery
Recognizing your strengths and weaknesses in leadership
The impact of self-awareness on your decision-making process
How self-awareness can lead to greater self-acceptance
The role of self-awareness in building emotional intelligence
Recognizing and managing your emotions in difficult situations
The benefits of self-awareness in building resilience
Exploring your communication style and how it affects your relationships

These self-awareness essay topic ideas and examples can help you explore different aspects of yourself and your behavior. Whether you are writing for personal reflection or for an academic assignment, writing about self-awareness can be a powerful tool for self-discovery and personal growth.

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63 Self-Awareness Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

🏆 best self-awareness topic ideas & essay examples, ⭐ good research topics about self-awareness, 👍 simple & easy self-awareness essay titles.

Self-Awareness and Person-Centered Approach Theory I also realized that I had the capacity to achieve whatever was in my desires. I thought that one day she would come to appreciate the effort I was making in school.
Self-Awareness in Nonverbal Communication The ability to correctly use nonverbal signs during a dialogue helps to position people and interest them in an idea or project. We will write a custom essay specifically for you by our professional experts 808 writers online Learn More
Intercultural Communication: Self-Awareness’ Importance However, to understand it, a person must be able to connect to the lives of others and to observe these processes in other people.
Self-Awareness and Meaningful Living Taylor emphasizes that the difficulty of the task and the amount of time needed to accomplish it are not relevant to the concept of meaninglessness. Therefore, it can be concluded that Taylor is the proponent […]
Self-Awareness Importance in Effective Leadership Training specific skills is one of the conditions that influence the hardness of the character and the ability to realize the set goals.
Emotional Intelligence: Self-Awareness Importance Leaders with high self-awareness are more likely to understand their own strengths and weaknesses, as well as their impact on others, which helps them make better decisions, manage stress and conflict effectively, and lead with […]
Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Self-Awareness Based on the article, Panayiotou et al.review the aspect of self-awareness in alexithymia and its correlation with social anxiety. The research provides insight into self-awareness and how it influences anxiety.
Self-Awareness of Nursing Analysis To become a professional nurse, one is to objectively their strengths and weaknesses in terms of providing care and interacting with professionals and patients daily.
Self‐Awareness in Nursing for Providing Culturally Competent Care Experimental studies show that self-awareness and reflection are essential for the development of competencies related to a cultural approach in nursing. To conclude, the article explores the topic of cultural competence in medicine and its […]
Nursing: Self-Awareness to Professional Development The first part of the paper will explain in detail my philosophy of nursing that reflects my life’s values. The second part of the paper includes a poem communicating the reasons behind my nursing career.
Gay Couples as Vulnerable Population and Self-Awareness The idea of same-sex marriages has developed in America to a legal platform. Cultural beliefs that undermine the role of same-sex parenting have an impact on the efficacy of gay couples as parents.
Self-Awareness to Being Watched The researchers used a good hypothesis to conduct the study. The researchers used videotapes in order to change the behaviours of the targeted subjects.
Self-Awareness of Emma, Huckleberry Finn, and Asher Lev This essay will portray the commonalities in these three novels and try to draw a contrast between them and discuss them in the light of three similar literary tools used, i.e.theme, antagonist, and irony in […]
Developing Self-Awareness in Managers To do so, they will conduct a literature review with the aim of understanding self-awareness and its relevance in the field of management. It improves one’s well-being and the ability to communicate in the workplace, […]
Developing Management Skills: Self-Awareness If one wants to master themselves, it is important that he or she pays attention to self-awareness as self-management and other skills depend on and are closely linked to it.
Self-Awareness in Human Interactions To the next respondent, the asset that I am in the group is my non-conventional approach to issues. The respondent also said that I encourage the group members.
Individual Presentation and Plan: Developing Self-Awareness In addition, the self-awareness will help me in developing and implementing a sound self-improvement program. Self-awareness is critical to me as a manager to help me relate and empathize with my co-workers in the organization.
Developing Self-Awareness: Individual Plan Effective goal setting strategies can solve the problem of the lack of time and improve self-discipline, not to mention the improved organization of the working process.
Teamwork and Self-Awareness In order for a group of people to effectively collaborate and ensure long-term teamwork on a project, there must be a sense of self-awareness in each member.
Self-Awareness and Personal Development Theories Killen and Smetana lend support to Skinner’s view of the concept of self by analyzing the societal and biological factors in the development of morality as an integral concept of self.
Self Awareness and Continuous Self Development It should be noted that self awareness can really help me in becoming a better manager because of the several advantages that are associated with it.
The Need to Improve One’s Self-Awareness Personal improvement is needed in this area because of the frequent loss of confidence and self-esteem in the process of acting on my emotions.
Evaluating Self Awareness Emotional Intelligence Assessment Comparing the sum of the scores garnered in all the elements with results of typical standard emotional assessment test gives an indication of the measure of the degree of emotional intelligence.
Good Communication Skills and a High Level of Self Awareness
People Skills: Self-Awareness as a Critical Skill for Professionals
Critically Analyze Why Self-Awareness Is Important in Career Success
Lifestyle Inventory and Self Awareness
Creativity and Innovation: Develop Self-Awareness and Person
Deliverance and Invisible Man: Realization of Self Awareness
Critical Thinking, Self-Awareness and Decision Making
Prosocial Behavior, Self-Schemas, and Self-Awareness
Army Leader Development and Self-Awareness
Personal Experience Encourages Self Reflection and Improves Self Awareness
Healthy Reflections: The Influence of Mirror-Induced Self-Awareness on Taste Perceptions
Ethics, Values and Self Awareness
Critical Areas for Self Awareness Psychology
Cultural Self Awareness and Cultural Intelligence
Communication, Self Awareness, and Communication Skills
Management Class and Self-Awareness for Team Membership
Family Heritage Foodways and Cultural Self-Awareness
Executive Dysfunction and Reduced Self-Awareness in Patients With Neurological Disorders
Existential Therapy: Death, Freedom & Self-Awareness
Self-Awareness in Status-Seeking Behavior
Developing Self-Awareness and Adulthood
Know Thyself: Competence and Self-Awareness
Links Between Self-Awareness and Experience
Analyzing Development Self Awareness of Stress Prone and Stress Resistant Personalities
Managing Diversity Through Self-Awareness and Personal Motivation
Perspective-Taking, Self-Awareness and Social Cognition in Neurodegenerative Disorders, Cerebral Abnormalities and Acquired Brain Injuries
Comparing and Contrasting Self-Awareness in the Classic Literature
Five Broad Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning Self-Awareness
Self-Awareness Achieved Through the Struggles in and Out of Society
Credibility, Self Awareness, Empowerment, and Leadership
Adjustment and Self Awareness: A Part of the Military
Exploring Self Awareness Leadership and Conflict Management
Growing Up: Self-Awareness and Adulthood
Self Awareness and Continuous Self Development Education
Eating Disorders and Self-Awareness
Cultural Self Awareness and Self Developing
Exteroceptive and Interoceptive Body-Self Awareness in Fibromyalgia Patients
Good Communication Skills Required a High Level of Self Awareness
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What Self-Awareness Really Is (and How to Cultivate It)

Tasha Eurich

Although most people believe that they are self-aware, true self-awareness is a rare quality. In this piece, the author describes a recent large-scale investigation that shed light on some of the biggest roadblocks, myths, and truths about what self-awareness really is — and what it takes to cultivate it. Specifically, the study found that there are actually two distinct types of self-awareness, that experience and power can hinder self-awareness, and that introspection doesn’t always make you more self-aware. Understanding these key points can help leaders learn to see themselves more clearly.

It’s not just about introspection.

Self-awareness seems to have become the latest management buzzword — and for good reason. Research suggests that when we see ourselves clearly, we are more confident and more creative . We make sounder decisions , build stronger relationships , and communicate more effectively . We’re less likely to lie, cheat, and steal . We are better workers who get more promotions . And we’re more-effective leaders with more-satisfied employees and more-profitable companies .

TE Tasha Eurich , PhD, is an organizational psychologist, researcher, and New York Times bestselling author. She is the principal of The Eurich Group, a boutique executive development firm that helps companies — from startups to the Fortune 100 — succeed by improving the effectiveness of their leaders and teams. Her newest book, Insight , delves into the connection between self-awareness and success in the workplace.

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Unlock Your Potential: Essay About Self Awareness and Growth

Self-awareness is the foundation of personal growth and development. It is the ability to reflect on oneself, identify one’s strengths and weaknesses, and understand how one’s actions and emotions affect others. Self-awareness is a skill …

Written by: Larry Carter

Published on: August 21, 2023

In this essay, we will explore the concept of self-awareness and its importance in unlocking an individual’s potential for success. We will discuss how self-awareness contributes to personal growth , emotional intelligence, and better relationships. We will also provide practical activities and strategies that can promote self-awareness and enhance one’s personal and professional life.

Key Takeaways:

Self-awareness is a crucial component of personal growth and development.
It involves reflecting on oneself, identifying strengths and weaknesses, and understanding how one’s actions and emotions affect others.
Self-awareness can be developed and cultivated over time.
It contributes to emotional intelligence and better relationships.
Practical activities and strategies can promote self-awareness and enhance one’s personal and professional life.

The Power of Self Awareness

Self-awareness is a crucial component of personal growth and development. It involves having a clear understanding of one’s thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. The ability to reflect on oneself and identify strengths and weaknesses is essential for achieving success and fulfillment.

Developing self-awareness requires specific skills and techniques. One of the most critical skills is the ability to observe oneself without judgment. This means accepting one’s thoughts and feelings without labeling them as good or bad. It allows individuals to gain clarity on their emotions and thought patterns and make more conscious decisions.

Another essential skill for self-awareness is self-reflection. Taking time to reflect on one’s actions and behaviors is an effective way to identify patterns and triggers that may be hindering personal growth . Journaling, meditation, and mindfulness practices are powerful tools for self-reflection.

The Benefits of Self Awareness

Self-awareness contributes to personal growth in many ways. It enables individuals to identify their strengths and weaknesses and develop strategies to improve in areas that need work. It also enhances emotional intelligence, which helps in navigating relationships both personally and professionally.

Self-aware individuals take responsibility for their actions and decisions and are accountable for their mistakes. This mindset leads to greater self-confidence and a willingness to take risks and pursue opportunities. It also fosters a growth mindset, which is essential for continual improvement.

The Connection between Self Awareness and Personal Growth

Self-awareness is strongly linked to personal growth and development. It allows individuals to identify limiting beliefs and behaviors and reframe their mindset. This shift in thinking opens up new possibilities and opportunities for growth and development.

Individuals with high levels of self-awareness tend to have a higher sense of purpose and direction. They are more likely to set and achieve goals and take actions that align with their values and passions. This, in turn, leads to greater fulfillment and success in life .

Overall, self-awareness is a powerful tool for personal growth and development. It enables individuals to unlock their full potential and achieve success in all areas of life.

Self Awareness and Emotional Intelligence

Self-awareness is a critical component of emotional intelligence, which refers to an individual’s ability to recognize and manage their emotions effectively. It involves understanding one’s own emotions and how they affect one’s behavior, thoughts, and responses to different situations.

When individuals have a high level of self-awareness, they are better equipped to manage their emotions and interpersonal relationships. They can recognize their strengths and weaknesses, which allows them to make better decisions and take appropriate actions to achieve their goals. Additionally, self-awareness allows individuals to understand how their emotions impact others, which can lead to improved communication and collaboration.

For instance, a leader with high emotional intelligence and self-awareness can communicate more effectively with their team members, understand their perspectives, and build stronger relationships. Similarly, an individual with self-awareness may be better able to manage stress and make decisions that align with their values and goals.

“Emotions are information, and self-awareness is the key to unlocking the potential of that information.” – Marc Brackett

Examples of Self Awareness

Self-awareness can manifest in different ways and impact various aspects of an individual’s life. Here are a few examples of how self-awareness has helped people achieve personal growth and success:

These examples illustrate how self-awareness can have a positive impact on an individual’s personal and professional life . By practicing self-awareness and understanding its benefits, individuals can unlock their full potential and achieve success in all areas of their lives.

Cultivating Self Awareness: Activities and Strategies

Cultivating self-awareness is not an easy process, but it is worth the effort. Here are some practical activities and strategies that individuals can use to enhance their self-awareness:

1. Journaling

Journaling is a powerful tool for self-reflection and self-discovery. It can help individuals identify patterns in their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, and gain insights into their values and beliefs. Set aside some time each day to jot down your thoughts and experiences, and reflect on them regularly to gain a deeper understanding of yourself.

2. Mindfulness Practices

Mindfulness is the practice of being present in the moment and paying attention to one’s thoughts, feelings, and sensations without judgment. It can help individuals become more aware of their internal experiences and develop greater self-acceptance. Mindfulness practices can include meditation , yoga, and deep breathing exercises.

3. Self-Reflection Exercises

Self-reflection exercises can help individuals gain a deeper understanding of their values, beliefs, and goals. These exercises can include asking yourself thought-provoking questions, reflecting on past experiences, or visualizing your ideal self. The key is to be honest with yourself and approach the exercises with an open mind.

4. Seek Feedback

Asking for feedback from others can be a valuable way to gain a new perspective on oneself. It can help individuals identify blind spots and areas for improvement. However, it is important to seek feedback from people who are supportive and constructive, and to approach it with an open mind and a willingness to learn.

By engaging in these activities and strategies, individuals can cultivate greater self-awareness and unlock their full potential for personal growth and success.

Reflecting on Personal Growth Through Self Awareness

Self-awareness is a critical component of personal growth and development. Through self-reflection and introspection, individuals can gain a deeper understanding of their strengths and weaknesses, values and beliefs, and emotions and behaviors. This awareness can help individuals make better decisions, improve relationships, and achieve their goals.

Benefits of Self Awareness

Self-awareness provides numerous benefits for individuals seeking personal growth. It can help individuals better understand their thoughts and emotions, which can lead to more effective decision-making and problem-solving. By recognizing their strengths and weaknesses, individuals can work to improve areas of weakness and capitalize on their strengths to achieve success. Additionally, self-awareness can lead to improved relationships, as individuals who understand themselves better are better able to understand and relate to others.

Cultivating Self Awareness

Cultivating self-awareness requires intentional effort and practice. There are several activities and strategies that individuals can use to enhance their self-awareness, such as journaling, mindfulness practices, self-reflection exercises, and seeking feedback from others. It’s essential to establish a regular practice of self-reflection to gain a deeper understanding of oneself and the world around them.

The Journey of Self Awareness

Self-awareness is a lifelong journey that requires continuous effort and dedication. It’s not a destination that can be reached overnight but rather an ongoing process of self-discovery. The journey of self-awareness can be challenging at times, as individuals may uncover uncomfortable truths about themselves. However, the benefits of self-awareness far outweigh any temporary discomfort, and the journey can lead to a more fulfilling and successful life.

By reflecting on personal growth through self-awareness, individuals can unlock their potential for success and fulfillment. Through intentional effort and practice, individuals can cultivate and enhance their self-awareness, leading to better decision-making, improved relationships, and personal growth. It’s time to embark on your own journey of self-discovery and self-awareness, and unlock your potential for success.

Q: What is self-awareness?

A: Self-awareness is the ability to recognize and understand one’s own thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. It involves being conscious of oneself and being aware of how one’s actions and feelings impact oneself and others.

Q: Why is self-awareness important?

A: Self-awareness is important because it allows individuals to gain a deeper understanding of themselves, their strengths, weaknesses, and values. It helps in making informed decisions, improving relationships, and achieving personal growth and success.

Q: How can self-awareness unlock an individual’s potential?

A: By being self-aware, individuals can identify their strengths and weaknesses, enabling them to leverage their strengths and work on areas that require improvement. This self-knowledge empowers them to set meaningful goals, make better choices, and tap into their full potential.

Q: What are some benefits of self-awareness?

A: Self-awareness brings numerous benefits, including improved self-confidence, better emotional regulation, enhanced communication skills, increased empathy, and stronger relationships. It also aids in stress management and fosters personal and professional growth.

Q: How can individuals develop their self-awareness?

A: Developing self-awareness requires intentional effort. Some strategies include practicing self-reflection, journaling, seeking feedback from others, engaging in mindfulness practices, and being open to self-discovery. It is an ongoing process that can be nurtured through continuous self-evaluation and self-improvement.

Q: Can you provide examples of self-awareness in action?

A: Certainly! Examples of self-awareness include individuals who recognize their triggers and manage their emotions effectively, those who are aware of their communication style and adapt it to different situations, and people who are mindful of their strengths and weaknesses and use that knowledge to achieve personal and professional goals.

Q: What are some activities and strategies to cultivate self-awareness?

A: There are several activities and strategies that can help cultivate self-awareness. These include keeping a journal to reflect on thoughts and emotions, practicing mindfulness to stay present in the moment, engaging in self-reflection exercises, seeking feedback from trusted individuals, and exploring personal values and beliefs.

Q: How does self-awareness relate to emotional intelligence?

A: Self-awareness is a key component of emotional intelligence. It involves recognizing and understanding one’s own emotions, as well as how those emotions impact thoughts, behaviors, and relationships. Self-awareness is the foundation for self-management and empathy, two other crucial aspects of emotional intelligence.

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Essays About Self: 5 Essay Examples and 7 Creative Essay Prompts

Essays about self require brainstorming and ample time to reflect on who you are. See our top picks and prompts to use in your essay writing.

“Tell me about yourself.” It’s a familiar question we are asked in social situations, job interviews, or on the first day of class. It’s also a customary essay writing topic in schools to prepare students for future career interviews, cover letters, and, most importantly, to assist individuals in assessing their personalities.

Self refers to qualities of one’s identity or character. It’s a broad topic, but many find it confusing. Before your get started on this topic, learn how to write personal essays to make this challenging topic easier to tackle.

5 Essay Examples

1. essay on defining self by anonymous on wowessays.com, 2. long essay on about myself by prasanna, 3. self discovery: my journey to understanding myself and the world around by anonymous on samplius.com, 4. how my future self is my hero by anonymous on gradesfixer.com, 5. essay on self-respect by bunty rane, 7 writing prompts on essays about self, 1. who am i, 2. a look at my personality, 3. my life: a self-reflection, 4. my best and worst qualities, 5. reasons to write about myself, 6. overcoming challenges and mistakes, 7. the importance of self-awareness.

“Google provided a definition of self as a “person’s essential being that distinguishes them from others, esp. considered as the object of introspection or reflexive action.” (Google.com, 2013) This may be as simple as this, but the word “self” is far more complicated than the things that make an individual different from other people.”

The author defines self as the physical and psychological way of perceiving and evaluating ourselves, which has two aspects. First is the development of an existential self which includes awareness of being different from others. Meanwhile, the second aspect is when someone realizes their categorical self or that they have the same physical characteristics as others.

The essay includes three aspects of self-definition. One is sell-image, or how a person views himself. Two is self-esteem, which dramatically affects how a person values and carries himself. And three is the ideal self, where people compare their self-image with their ideal characteristics, often leading to a new definition of themselves.

“Each person finds their mission differently and has a different journey. Thus, when I write about myself, I write about my journey and what makes the person I am because of the trip. I try to be myself, be passionate about my dreams and hobbies, live honestly, and work hard to achieve all that I want to make.”

Prassana divides her essay into sections: hobbies, dreams, aspirations, and things she wants to learn. Her hobbies are baking and reading books that help her relax. She’s lucky to have parents who let her choose her career where she’ll be happy and stable, which is being a traveler. Prasanna finds learning fun, so she wants to continue learning simple things like cooking specific cuisine, scuba, and sky diving.

“High school has taught me about myself, and that is the most important lesson I could have learned. This metamorphosis has taken me from what I used to be to what I am now.”

In this essay, the writer shows the importance of self-discovery to become a better version of yourself. During their high school days, the author was a typically shy and somewhat childish person who was afraid to speak. So they hid in their room, where they felt safe. But as days pass and they grow older, the writer learns to be strong and stabilize their emotions. Soon, they left their cocoon, managed to express their feelings, and believed in themselves.

Because of self-discovery, the author realized they have their thoughts, ideas, morals, likes, and dislikes. They are no longer afraid of mistakes and have learned to enjoy life. The writer also believes that to succeed, and everyone must trust themselves and not give up on reaching their dreams.

“Bold, passionate, humble these are how I envision my hero to be and these are the three people I want to work on, moving forward as I strive to become the self I want to be in the future.”

The essay shows how a simple award speech by Matthew McConaughey moves the writer’s mind and ultimately creates their hero. They come up with three main qualities they want their future self to have. The first is to be someone who is not afraid to take advantage of any opportunities. Next is to stop being content with just being alive and continue searching for their purpose and genuine passion. Last, they strive to be humble and grateful to every person who contributes to their success.

“People with self-respect have the courage of accepting their mistakes. They exhibit certain toughness, a kind of moral courage, and they display character. Without self-respect, one becomes an unwilling audience of one’s failing both real and imaginary.”

Self-respect is a form of self-love. For Rane, it’s a habit of the mind that will never fail anyone. It’s a ritual that makes a person remember who they are. It reminds us to live without needing anyone else’s approval and walk alone toward our goals. Meanwhile, people with no self-respect hate those who have it. As a result, they become weak and lose their identity.

People can describe who you are in many ways, but the only person who truly knows you is yourself. Use this prompt to introduce yourself to the readers. Share personal and exciting details such as your name’s origin, quirky family routines, and your most memorable moments. It doesn’t have to be too personal. You only need to focus on information that distinguishes you from everyone else.

Essays About Self: A look at my personality

Personality is a person’s unique way of thinking, feeling, and behavior. You can apply this prompt to describe your personality as a student or working adult. Write about how you develop your skills, make friends, do everyday tasks, and many more. Differentiate “self” and “personality” in your introduction to help readers understand your essay content better.

Connect with your inner self and conduct a self-reflection. This practice helps us grow and improve. In writing this prompt, you will need time to reflect on your life to identify and explain your qualities and values.

For instance, talk about the things you are grateful for, words that best describe you according to the people around you, and areas of yourself that you’d like to improve. Then, discuss how these things affect your life.

Every individual is a work in progress. Although you consider yourself a good person, there are still parts of you that you want to improve. Discuss these shortcomings with your readers. Expound on why people like and dislike these traits. Include how you plan to change your bad characteristics. You can add instances demonstrating your good and bad qualities to make your piece more relatable.

Writing about yourself is a great way to use your creativity in exploring and examining your identity. But, unfortunately, it’s also a great medium to release emotional distress and work through these feelings. So, for this prompt, delve into the benefits of writing about oneself. Then, persuade your readers to start writing about themselves and give tips to help them get started.

For help with this topic, read our guide explaining what is persuasive writing ?

If you want to connect emotionally with your readers, this prompt is the best to use for your essay. Identify and discuss difficult life experiences and explain how these challenging times helped you learn and grow as a person.

Tip : You can use this prompt even if you haven’t faced any life-changing challenges. The problem you may have encountered can be as simple as finding it hard to wake up early.

Essays About Self: The importance of self-awareness

Some benefits of self-awareness include being a better decision-maker and effective communicator. Define and explain self-awareness. Then, examine how self-awareness influences our lives. You can also include different types of self-awareness and their benefits to a person.

If you want to try these techniques, check out our round-up of the best journals !

Maria Caballero is a freelance writer who has been writing since high school. She believes that to be a writer doesn't only refer to excellent syntax and semantics but also knowing how to weave words together to communicate to any reader effectively.

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What Is Self-Awareness?

Development, Types, and How to Improve

Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."

Rachel Goldman, PhD FTOS, is a licensed psychologist, clinical assistant professor, speaker, wellness expert specializing in eating behaviors, stress management, and health behavior change.

Development
How to Improve

Self-Consciousness

Frequently asked questions.

Self-awareness is your ability to perceive and understand the things that make you who you are as an individual, including your personality, actions, values, beliefs, emotions, and thoughts. Essentially, it is a psychological state in which the self becomes the focus of attention .

While self-awareness is central to who you are, it is not something you are acutely focused on at every moment of every day. Instead, self-awareness becomes woven into the fabric of who you are and emerges at different points depending on the situation and your personality .

It is one of the first components of the self-concept to emerge. People are not born completely self-aware. Yet evidence suggests that infants do have a rudimentary sense of self-awareness.

Infants possess the awareness that they are separate beings from others, which is evidenced by behaviors such as the rooting reflex in which an infant searches for a nipple when something brushes against their face. Researchers have also found that even newborns are able to differentiate between self- and non-self touch.

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Self-Awareness Development

Studies have demonstrated that a more complex sense of self-awareness emerges around one year of age and becomes much more developed by approximately 18 months of age. Researchers Lewis and Brooks-Gunn performed studies looking at how self-awareness develops.

The researchers applied a red dot to an infant's nose and then held the child up to a mirror. Children who recognized themselves in the mirror would reach for their own noses rather than the reflection in the mirror, which indicated that they had at least some level of self-awareness.

Lewis and Brooks-Gunn found that almost no children under one year of age would reach for their own nose rather than the reflection in the mirror.

About 25% of the infants between 15 and 18 months reached for their own noses while about 70% of those between 21 and 24 months did so.

It is important to note that the Lewis and Brooks-Gunn study only indicates an infant's visual self-awareness; children might actually possess other forms of self-awareness even at this early point in life. For example, researchers Lewis, Sullivan, Stanger, and Weiss suggested that expressing emotions involves self-awareness as well as an ability to think about oneself in relation to other people.

Researchers have proposed that an area of the brain known as the anterior cingulate cortex located in the frontal lobe region plays an important role in developing self-awareness. Studies have also used brain imaging to show that this region becomes activated in adults who are self-aware.

The Lewis and Brooks-Gunn experiment suggests that self-awareness begins to emerge in children around the age of 18 months, an age that coincides with the rapid growth of spindle cells in the anterior cingulate cortex.

However, one study found that a patient retained self-awareness even with extensive damage to areas of the brain including the insula and the anterior cingulate cortex.

This suggests that these areas of the brain are not required for most aspects of self-awareness and that awareness may instead arise from interactions distributed among brain networks.

Levels of Self-Awareness

So how exactly do children become aware of themselves as separate beings? One major theory of self-awareness, introduced by developmental psychologist Philippe Rochat, suggests that there are five levels of self-awareness. Children progress through these stages between birth and approximately age 4 or 5:

Differentiation : A baby begins to acknowledge their own reflection. They may detect there is something different or special about looking at their reflection.
Situation : A baby begins to recognize their own reflection, being, and movements as separate from those around them.
Identification : This is the stage during which a child fully knows that it is their own reflection in a mirror. They know, "This is me ."
Permanence : They have a complete sense of themselves and can identify themselves in pictures or videos, even as their appearance changes.
Self-consciousness : A child adapts a third-person point of view of themselves; they become aware of the idea that others perceive them in certain ways. This may result in feelings such as pride or shame.

Types of Self-Awareness

Psychologists often break self-awareness down into two different types, either public or private.

Public Self-Awareness

This type emerges when people are aware of how they appear to others. Public self-awareness typically emerges in situations when people are at the center of attention.

This type of self-awareness often compels people to adhere to social norms . When we are aware that we are being watched and evaluated, we often try to behave in ways that are socially acceptable and desirable.

Public self-awareness can also lead to evaluation anxiety in which people become distressed, anxious, or worried about how they are perceived by others.

Public Self-Awareness Examples

You may experience public self-awareness in the workplace, when you're giving a big presentation. Or, you may experience it when telling a story to a group of friends.

Private Self-Awareness

This type happens when people become aware of some aspects of themselves, but only in a private way. For example, seeing your face in the mirror is a type of private self-awareness.

Private Self-Awareness Examples

Feeling your stomach lurch when you realize you forgot to study for an important test or feeling your heart flutter when you see someone you are attracted to are also examples of private self-awareness.

How to Improve Your Self-Awareness

So how do you grow self-awareness? There are many ways you can practice being present with yourself and your emotions, which, in turn, can help improve your self-awareness.

Meditation can be an especially useful practice because you don't have to worry about changing anything—simply noticing what happens during a meditation can bring greater awareness of your thoughts and feelings.

Maybe you notice that you hold tension in your body by clenching your jaw, for instance, or that you tend to worry so much about the future that it's hard to be in the present moment. This is all valuable information that can help you get to know yourself and your tendencies.

Journaling is a practice in self-reflection that can help you notice the ways in which you tend to think and behave, and even which areas in your life you may wish to improve. It can be a therapeutic way to gain insight into your life events and relationships.

Talk Therapy

During therapy—such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)—a therapist works with you to address negative thought patterns or behaviors.

By understanding the underlying cause of your negative thoughts, for instance, you're in a more advantageous position to change them and use healthy coping mechanisms instead.

Develop Your Emotional Intelligence

Self-awareness and emotional intelligence (EQ) go hand in hand. EQ refers to a person's ability to perceive their own emotions as well as the emotions of other people. Someone with a high EQ is able to effectively respond to emotions with empathy and compassion.

Of course, no one is perfect, and EQ is a skill like any other. But by learning to express your own emotions in a healthy way, and practicing active listening in your relationships, you're contributing to the expansion of your own self-awareness as well.

Try Our EQ Test

Our fast and free EQ test can help you determine whether or not your responses to certain situations in life indicate a high level of emotional intelligence:

Sometimes, people can become overly self-aware and veer into what is known as self-consciousness. Have you ever felt like everyone was watching you, judging your actions, and waiting to see what you will do next? This heightened state of self-awareness can leave you feeling awkward and nervous in some instances.

In a lot of cases, these feelings of self-consciousness are only temporary and arise in situations when we are "in the spotlight." For some people, however, excessive self-consciousness can reflect a chronic condition such as social anxiety disorder .

While self-awareness plays a critical role in how we understand ourselves and how we relate to others and the world, excessive self-consciousness can result in challenges such as anxiety and stress .

If you struggle with self-consciousness, discuss your symptoms with a doctor or mental health professional to learn more about what you can do to cope with these feelings.

Being self-aware is all about having an understanding of your own thoughts, feelings, values, beliefs, and actions. It means that you understand who you are, what you want, how you feel, and why you do the things that you do.

There are many different ways to think about self-awareness, but four keys that are often mentioned included mindfulness, self-compassion, reflection, and feedback.

Mindfulness allows people to become more aware of themselves in the present, while compassion allows them to do so without passing judgment on themselves. Reflection and feedback allow people to take what they have learned and improve themselves in order to achieve their goals and reach their full potential.

The five elements of self-awarenesses are:

Consciousness : This means being aware of your internal experiences, including your emotions and thoughts.
Self-knowledge : This element is focused on your understanding of who you are, including your beliefs, values, and motivations.
Emotional intelligence : This element is focused on the ability to understand and manage emotions.
Self-acceptance : This aspect is centered on accepting who you are and showing yourself compassion and kindness.
Self-reflection : This element of self-awareness involves being able to think deeply about your feelings, thoughts, and goals in order to gain an even better understanding of who you are and your place in the world.

Rochat, P. Five levels of self-awareness as they unfold early in life . Consciousness and Cognition . 2003;12(4):717-31. doi:10.1016/S1053-8100(03)00081-3

Brooks-Gunn J, Lewis M. The development of early visual self-recognition . Dev Review . 1984;4(3):215-39. doi:10.1016/S0273-2297(84)80006-4

Moeller SJ, Goldstein RZ. Impaired self-awareness in human addiction: deficient attribution of personal relevance . Trends Cogn Sci (Regul Ed). 2014;18(12):635-41. PMID: 25278368

Philippi CL, Feinstein JS, Khalsa SS, et al. Preserved self-awareness following extensive bilateral brain damage to the insula, anterior cingulate, and medial prefrontal cortices . PLoS ONE. 2012;7(8):e38413. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0038413

Sutton A. Measuring the effects of self-awareness: Construction of the self-awareness outcomes questionnaire . Eur J Psychol . 2016;12(4):645-658. doi:10.5964/ejop.v12i4.1178

Xiao Q, Yue C, He W, Yu JY. The mindful self: A mindfulness-enlightened self-view . Front Psychol . 2017;8:1752. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01752

Snyder, M. Journaling. R. Lindquist, M. Snyder, & M. F. Tracy (Eds.). In: Complementary and alternative therapies in nursing . Springer Publishing Company; 2014.

Nakao M, Shirotsuki K, Sugaya N. Cognitive–behavioral therapy for management of mental health and stress-related disorders: Recent advances in techniques and technologies . BioPsychoSocial Med. 2021;15(1). doi:10.1186/s13030-021-00219-w

Serrat O. Understanding and developing emotional intelligence . Knowledge Solutions. 2017:329-339. doi:10.1007/978-981-10-0983-9_37

Dasilveira A, Desouza ML, Gomes WB. Self-consciousness concept and assessment in self-report measures . Front Psychol . 2015;6:930. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2015.00930

Stein DJ. Social anxiety disorder and the psychobiology of self-consciousness . Front Hum Neurosci . 2015;9:489. doi:10.3389/fnhum.2015.00489

Crisp, R. J. & Turner, R. N. Essential social psychology. London: Sage Publications; 2010.

By Kendra Cherry, MSEd Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."

101 Self-Awareness Examples

self-awareness types and definition, explained below

Self-awareness refers to the conscious knowledge of one’s own character, emotions, desires, and motivations.

It is a key component of emotional intelligence theory and, in psychology, the two concepts are often studies as co-dependent and intricately linked (Goleman, 2018; Goleman et al., 2018).

Being self-aware can refer to the ability to be conscious of both your own behaviors and how others perceive them. For example, ability to identify and name your current emotions and identify how others are reacting to your behaviors are both examples of self-awareness.

Types of Self-Awareness: The 4 Archetypes

One well-known framework for explaining and defining self-awareness is the four archetypes model . This model argues that self-awareness can be divided into two categories: internal and external (Eurich, 2017; Eurich, 2018).

Internal self-awareness refers to understanding your own emotions and how they affect your thoughts and actions. This is an inherent introspective task and an intrapersonal skill (Carden, Jones & Passmore, 2022; Duval & Silvia, 2002).
External self-awareness refers to understanding how others perceive your thoughts and actions. In other words, it’s the ability to be aware of your situatedness within social contexts and a key interpersonal skill (Carden, Jones & Passmore, 2022).

Based on these two types of self-awareness, Eurich has presented four ‘self-awareness archetypes’. See which one you most identify with:

Each is described below:

Introspectors: Introspectors have high internal self-awareness, meaning they are very much aware of their own emotions. However, they’re often unaware of how others perceive them (low external self-awareness). They often don’t seek out feedback from others, which can limit their self-growth and lead to plenty of blindspots (Eurich, 2018).
Aware: The ‘aware’ archetype is the idealized model because it represents people with very high emotional intelligence. These people are both internally and externally self-aware, meaning they will both self-reflect regularly and seek out external information and feedback to help broaden their perspectives and address blindspots (Eurich, 2018).
Seekers: Seekers don’t think much about themselves, their emotions, thoughts, or identities. They also aren’t aware of how others perceive them. As a result, they’re often frustrated by their lack of progress (especially in terms of networking and relationships) (Eurich, 2018).
Pleasers: Pleasers tend to be more focused on and concerned about how others perceive them than their own self-perception. By focusing too much on pleasing others, they often make decisions that aren’t in their own best interests, such as by saying ‘yes’ to too many collaborations, leading them to becoming burned-out! (Eurich, 2018)

Self-Awareness Examples

1. high internal self-awareness.

High internal self-awareness involves the understanding of one’s emotions, thoughts, and values, and how they affect behavior.

Here are 26 examples:

Recognizing when you are under stress and understanding why.
Knowing your strengths and how to use them optimally.
Understanding your weaknesses and working on improving them.
Being aware of your motivating forces.
Knowing your personal values and how they dictate your decisions.
Realizing when you are happiest and striving to spend more time in that state.
Understanding your key skills and leveraging them in work and life.
Recognizing when you are overwhelmed and taking necessary action.
Being aware of your mood swings and managing them effectively.
Being clear about your long-term goals and what you want in life.
Recognizing unproductive habits and actively trying to change them.
Understanding the impact of past experiences on current behavior.
Knowing your physical boundaries and not pushing beyond them excessively.
Being aware of your mental boundaries and respecting them.
Recognizing your preferred communication style and how it impacts others.
Acknowledging your core personal beliefs and how they shape your worldview.
Being aware of your emotional triggers and learning to control them.
Understanding your biases and prejudices and actively addressing them.
Recognizing when you are out of your comfort zone and how that feels.
Identifying preferred learning styles and methods.
Being aware of your physical reactions to certain emotions (e.g., stress, excitement).
Understanding your personal needs and ensuring they’re met.
Recognizing your patterns of behavior in relationships.
Acknowledging your personal growth over time .
Being aware of the intensity of your emotions and how they fluctuate.
Recognizing when you are in a positive mental state and identifying what contributed to it.

High External Self-Awareness

High external self-awareness comprises the understanding of how one is perceived by others, recognizing others’ perspectives, and adapting to different interactions or situations.

Here are 25 examples:

Actively seeking feedback from peers , friends, or family.
Noticing how others react to your words and actions in various contexts.
Awareness of how your behavior influences the mood and behavior of others.
Being considerate of others’ needs while expressing your own.
Tailoring communication style as per the audience and situation.
Adjusting one’s behavior to align with cultural norms or social expectations.
Understanding how your punctuality—or lack thereof—affects others.
Recognizing how your reactions to feedback impact the feedback giver.
Paying attention to others’ vocal tone or nonverbal cues when interacting with you.
Monitoring how your work style meshes with or disrupts team dynamics.
Understanding how your leadership style is received by your subordinates.
Figuring out how your negotiation tactics are perceived by the opposite party.
Observing how your dress and personal presentation affects professional interactions.
Recognizing how your emotional state influences others around you.
Comprehending how effective your persuasion methods are in changing others’ opinions.
Adjusting conversation topics based on listeners’ interest level.
Determining how your customer service approach impacts customers.
Monitoring how your social media posts are received by followers.
Understanding how different audiences perceive your public speaking style.
Realizing how your coaching style is accepted by your mentees.
Noticing how people respond to your jokes or sense of humor.
Acknowledging how your level of assertiveness is reacted to in different situations.
Recognizing if your method of conflict resolution is effective.
Assessing if your teaching style is resonating with students, clients, or staff.
Evaluating how helpful or meaningful your volunteering efforts are to the intended recipients.

Low Internal Self-Awareness

Low internal self-awareness denotes a lack of understanding or consciousness about one’s own emotions, thoughts, desires, and values, as well as how these influence one’s behavior.

Ignoring feelings of stress or anxiety without investigating their cause.
Not knowing what truly motivates or inspires you.
Disregarding your personal strengths and weaknesses.
Being unaware of deep-rooted personal values.
Misreading emotions and attributing them to incorrect causes.
Not recognizing patterns of mood swings.
Overlooking significant past experiences that shape present behavior.
Being ignorant about personal set goals and life expectations.
Overlooking physical and emotional boundaries.
Failing to recognize the effects of negative or unproductive habits.
Not assessing personal beliefs and how they influence perceptions.
Lack of awareness about personal communication style and its effects.
Ignoring emotional triggers and their control.
Neglecting to understand personal biases and prejudices.
Not knowing which situations or experiences take you out of your comfort zone.
Overlooking preferred learning styles and methods.
Underestimating the intensity and range of your emotions.
Ignoring personal needs and neglecting self-care.
Neglecting your patterns of behavior in relationships.
Underestimating the impact of your actions on others.
Missing the recognition of personal growth over time.
Being unaware of physical reactions in response to certain emotions.
Failing to recognize the power and control of your thoughts.
Being dismissive of the importance of reflection and introspection.
Overlooking the potential for personal development and self-improvement.

Low External Self-Awareness

Low external self-awareness refers to a deficit in understanding how one is seen by others and how one’s behavior impacts them.

Neglecting to seek feedback or acknowledging it when provided.
Failing to notice reactions or feedback to one’s behavior from others.
Being blind to the effect one’s emotional state has on people around.
Showcasing a lack of consideration of how your actions affect others’ needs or feelings.
Ignoring the suitability of one’s communication style for various situations and audiences.
Overlooking how others react to your punctuality habits.
Not recognizing how your reactions to feedback affect the person providing it.
Disregarding others’ perspectives or failing to take them into account in decision making.
Ignoring how your behavior or actions alter team dynamics.
Not understanding how your leadership style affects team members’ motivation and productivity.
Failing to notice the implications of your negotiation style on the outcome of agreements.
Ignoring the impact of personal appearance on professional interactions.
Overlooking how your emotional transparency affects the emotional state of others.
Ignoring how your behavior might differ from social norms or expectations .
Disregarding the impact of your sense of humor on others.
Neglecting to adjust your communication methods based on signals from listeners.
Ignoring the influence of your customer service approach on customers.
Failing to recognize how your social media presence impacts others.
Neglecting the effectiveness of your public speaking style on diverse audiences.
Overlooking the effect of your coaching style on your mentees.
Ignoring the reactions of others based on your level of assertiveness.
Failing to recognize if conflict resolution techniques effectively resolves disputes.
Overlooking student feedback or response to teaching methods.
Ignoring how your actions and behaviors align with societal expectations.
Neglecting whether your volunteering efforts are impactful to recipients.

The Benefits of Self-Awareness

The benefits of self-awareness are profound and far-reaching, profoundly impacting various aspects of life.

Some key benefits include enhanced decision-making , relationship-building, personal and professional growth, stress management, and emotional health. Each is outlined below:

Relationships and Interpersonal Skills: Having high internal and external self-awareness means you’re tuned not just into your own actions and emotions but also those of the people around you. This can help predict and respond appropriately to others’ behaviors, needs, and emotions, strengthening and deepening your relationships.
Personal and professional growth: By understanding your strengths, weaknesses, core values , and areas that need improvement, you can develop strategies to bolster your skills and address areas of weakness. In a professional context, this might translate to choosing projects that align with your strengths or opting for upskilling in areas where you’re not as confident.
Stress management : Recognizing your emotional and physical reactions to stress can help you develop effective coping mechanisms. Whether it’s understanding that a walk outdoors can calm your mind or realizing that speaking about your challenges helps relieve stress, these strategies are borne out of self-awareness.
Emotional health: Self-awareness lets you better understand and manage your own emotions, leading to improved psychological well-being. Take, for example, developing clarity about sleep patterns, foods, exercise patterns, or actions that affect your mood. This self-awareness can help you to make life decisions that can manage your emotions more effectively. Decoding your emotional responses leads to better resilience and overall emotional health.

Key Points in this Article

There are two main types of self-awareness: internal and external.
Internal refers to your awareness of your own emotions, thoughts, and behaviors.
External refers to your awareness of how others are interpreting you, your mannerisms, and your behaviors.
Academics have identified for self-assessment archetypes: the ‘introspectors’, ‘pleasers’, ‘aware’, and ‘seekers’.
Self-awareness can help you improve your relationships and interpersonal skills and grow as a person and a professional.
It can also help you manage your stress and build resilience.

Ashley, G. C., & Reiter-Palmon, R. (2012). Self-awareness and the evolution of leaders: The need for a better measure of self-awareness. Journal of Behavioral and Applied Management , 14 (1), 2-17.

Carden, J., Jones, R. J., & Passmore, J. (2022). Defining self-awareness in the context of adult development: A systematic literature review. Journal of Management Education , 46 (1), 140-177. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/1052562921990065

Duval, T. S., & Silvia, P. J. (2002). Self-awareness, probability of improvement, and the self-serving bias . Journal of personality and social psychology , 82 (1), 49. Doi: https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1037/0022-3514.82.1.49

Eurich, T. (2017). Insight: Why we’re not as self-aware as we think, and how seeing ourselves clearly helps us succeed at work and in life . London: Currency.

Eurich, T. (2018). What self-awareness really is (and how to cultivate it). Harvard Business Review , 4 .

Goleman, D. (2018). What makes a leader?. In Military leadership (pp. 39-52). Routledge.

Goleman, D., Kaplan, R. S., David, S., & Eurich, T. (2018). Self-Awareness (HBR Emotional Intelligence Series) . Harvard Business Press.

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1 thought on “101 Self-Awareness Examples”

I love this article, it summarises serveral years of research and documents on the subject into a single capsule of knowledge that is rich in depth. I believe that this can be used as a road map to the priceless treasure mine of becoming self aware.

Using Self-Awareness Theory and Skills in Psychology

Asking and reflecting on that question is an example of self-awareness.

How often do you find yourself engaging in this type of reflection?

If you answered, ‘not often,’ then this article is perfect for you.

If you responded, ‘all the time!’ this article also is perfect for you.

Why? Because self-awareness is a skill that like a muscle, needs a good workout to stay strong and flexible.

Emotional intelligence guru Daniel Goleman once said:

If your emotional abilities aren’t in hand, if you don’t have self-awareness, if you are not able to manage your distressing emotions, if you can’t have empathy and have effective relationships, then no matter how smart you are, you are not going to get very far.

Before you continue, we thought you might like to download our three Self-Compassion Exercises for free . These detailed, science-based exercises will not only help you increase the compassion and kindness you show yourself, but also give you the tools to help your clients, students, or employees show more compassion to themselves.

This Article Contains:

What is self-awareness theory a definition, objective self-awareness in psychology, a look at the work of duval and wicklund, a look at the theory in social psychology, 7 examples of self-awareness theory, what is self-perception theory and how does it differ, what are self-awareness skills, 7 ways to improve self-awareness skills, 7 useful activities and exercises, a take-home message.

The American Psychological Association (n.d.) defines self-awareness theory as “the consequences of focusing attention on the self.” Much of the research and literature available today distinguishes between two types of self-awareness: subjective and objective.

Subjective self-awareness is the idea that we are the source of all our perceptions and behaviors. The world revolves around us based on our observations and experience.

Researchers Duval and Wicklund, whom you will read about later, sought to define objective self-awareness. It is the idea that we compare ourselves to others and some standard of correct behavior. These comparisons in behaviors, attitudes, and traits all contribute to our sense of self-awareness (American Psychological Association, n.d.).

What got us to this understanding of self-awareness ? When does self-awareness actually begin? What happens when someone is not self-aware?

In the rest of this article, we will dig into some of the possible answers. As we do, you might reflect on your beliefs about self-awareness. Please feel free to share them in the comments section.

Since then, self-awareness has been the interest of many psychologists (Brownell, Zerwas, & Ramani, 2007). The quest to define when the self emerges, why it is important, and what it means in our development is ongoing.

From a developmental theory perspective, children become self-aware at about 18 months old (Brownell et al., 2007). This period marks the beginning of the “terrible twos” that many parents know too well. Their child begins behaving more independently. They see themselves as separate from others and recognize themselves in mirrors. Their new favorite word is ‘no.’ This is an example of subjective awareness.

Rochat (2003) asserted that five levels of self-awareness exist early in a child’s life. These happen sequentially by about the age of four or five.

Level 0 – Confusion . The child is unable to see a difference between self and the reflection of self . Level 1 – Differentiation . The child begins to understand that the mirror is a reflection of the environment. They see that something is different. Level 2 – Situation . This marks the start of understanding the uniqueness of the self, as seen in a mirror. The child recognizes that the reflection is “out there” in relation to their actual body. Level 3 – Identification. Recognition that the mirror image is the self becomes clearer. Level 4 – Permanence. The child recognizes themself in pictures and videos, even when that self is the younger self. Level 5 – Self-consciousness or “meta” self-awareness. The child is aware of self and how others perceive them.

Objective self-awareness, according to the American Psychological Association (n.d.), is “a reflective state of self-focused attention.” It involves assessing oneself as compared to others and then correcting behaviors and beliefs as needed. When differences exist between our ideal and actual selves, we experience unease. To fix this, we look outside of ourselves to others.

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In 1972, Duval and Wicklund developed the idea of objective self-awareness. They asserted that at any given moment, a person could be self-focused or other-focused. Further, they believed that inward focus involved comparing the self with standards.

These standards arise from interactions with the external environment. Once internalized, the individual may make adjustments to their thoughts and behaviors. The more self-focused a person is, the more self-aware the person becomes.

To test their ideas, they conducted a series of experiments. In one study, they sought to determine if opinions and performance would change if the subject became more self-aware. A series of three experiments showed this to be the case (Wicklund & Duval, 1971).

Subjects who were tape-recorded, exposed to a TV camera, or faced a mirror while performing a task showed increased self-awareness. Subjects’ opinions aligned with a specified standard (experiment 1 and 2), or their performance improved (experiment 3).

Duval’s and Wicklund’s research is the basis for contemporary research in the area of self-awareness generally and objective self-awareness specifically. Their work demonstrated that empirical study of self-focused attention was possible (Morin, 2011).

Thus, it makes sense that self-awareness is of interest to these researchers. Scientists want to know the origins and effects of our interactions.

An understanding of the interplay between increased self-awareness and standards is important.

Some questions explored by social psychologists include:

Is there such a thing as an automatic comparison of self to standards (Silvia & Phillips, 2013)?
What are the effects of public and private self-awareness on de-individuation and aggression (Prentice-Dunn & Rogers, 1982)?
How does self-awareness affect leadership (Showry & Manasa, 2014)?
Is consumer behavior affected by self-awareness? If so, how (Ertimur & Lavoie, 2019)?
How does culture affect self-awareness (Heine, Takemoto, Moskalenko, Lasaleta, & Henrich, 2008)?

The study of self-awareness within social psychology is ongoing. It is an area filled with dynamic research and is not without criticism (Silvia & Duval, 2001). Silvia and Duval highlight three areas needing further attention:

How expectancies influence approach and avoidance of self-standard discrepancies
The nature of standards
The role of causal attribution in directing discrepancy reduction

Self-awareness is being “in-tune” with yourself in relationship to others, too. If you are a boss who does not listen to your staff, then you might not realize their perception of you. One management tool often used to address this is 360-degree feedback.

Some other examples of the theory include our awareness of:

Our actions in the moment
Attitudes about our actions in the moment
Our emotions in the moment
How we want others to perceive us
Our appearance
Inner conflicts (e.g., between your beliefs and actions)
Our beliefs and values
Other peoples’ attitudes, feelings, and beliefs

An inability to develop self-awareness can make situations uncomfortable for others. It also can lead to greater conflict.

For some people, their lack of self-awareness is out of their control, such as those with certain neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., Alzheimer’s disease, other forms of dementia, anosognosia, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder), neurological and developmental disorders (e.g., autism spectrum disorder), and brain injury.

In some of these situations, a person still can learn to become more self-aware (Huang et al., 2017; Shany-Ur et al., 2014).

There is no experience required or necessary. Bem believed that people use this same approach when interpreting the behavior of others. Behavior happens; emotion follows.

For example, try this:

Look into a mirror and scowl. Do this for several minutes. Then, ask yourself how you are feeling. Are you angry? Irritable? Annoyed? Your behavior led to the emotion.

Another example is the idea behind faking it until you make it . Maybe you have had a horrible day, but because you agreed to attend a social function, you feel obligated to show up. After arriving, people do what everyone expects. They greet you, you greet them, and everyone smiles. Before you know it, you have forgotten about whatever irritated you. You feel happier or less irritated because you imitated the expected “nod and smile” behavior.

One difference between the two theories is that self-perception asserts that behavior precedes emotion. This happens without an explicit comparison to others’ attitudes or behaviors.

Daniel Goleman (2012) describes self-awareness skills as “knowing what we’re feeling and why. They are the basis for good intuition and decision-making. [Self-awareness] is a moral compass.” His theory of emotional intelligence (Hay Group, 2005) describes three competencies involved in self-awareness:

Emotional self-awareness – Recognizing our own emotions and their effects
Accurate self-assessment – Knowing our own strengths and limits
Self-confidence – Having a strong sense of our self-worth and capabilities

These three skills are critical to the development of emotional intelligence (Goleman, 2012). We already understand that humans are social animals. Our communication often occurs at an unconscious level (Mlodinow, 2012).

Think back to a time when you were not having a good day. With whom did you communicate? Whether the person knew you well or not does not matter. In most cases, humans are very accurate at detecting unconscious communication. Becoming more self-aware can lead to more relational success within our various communities.

Now, the question is, h ow do we get better at this skill? Fortunately, there are several ways to do this.

You can try each of the strategies below to determine which fits you best:

Learn to meditate . If this seems daunting, start with as few as 30 seconds of slow, deep breathing.
Seek feedback . Sometimes, we do not know our strengths or weaknesses. Asking others helps us see where we can improve and where we already excel.
Learn to write, track, and analyze your goals . As you see yourself accomplishing goals, you gain insights into what drives you.
Use personality and character trait assessments to gain insights . Examples include the VIA Character Survey and StrengthsFinder, but there are other surveys .
Journal . Allow yourself to free-write or use prompts. Both help you gain a different perspective on your thoughts, beliefs, and feelings.
Write morning pages . This idea is from Julia Cameron’s book, The Artist’s Way . Every morning, write three longhand pages of whatever comes to your mind. Even if all you write for three pages is, “I can’t think of anything to write,” that is okay. The point is to allow yourself to get everything out of your head before you begin your day. It might look like a jumble of mismatched rubbish. It might also come together into something you could follow up on later. This is a stream of consciousness writing, not plotting and planning. Do not reread your pages, unless of course, an idea for something cool surfaces (A kernel for a book? A solution to a problem?). You might learn something surprising about who you are, what you value, and what matters to you most.
Albert Ellis’s ABCs . Each of us experiences activating events (A) that trigger negative emotional responses. These emotional responses surface as internal dialogue or beliefs (B) and can lead to negative consequences (C). Ellis developed Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) to help people better deal with the irrational beliefs associated with adverse events. REBT increases our self-awareness by teaching us to “identify, challenge, and replace self-defeating beliefs with healthier ones that promote emotional wellbeing and goal achievement” (Albert Ellis Institute, n.d.).

You can also check out our selection of self-awareness books to help you improve your skills.

It is time for a deep dive into specific practices you can adopt and adapt in your pursuit of self-awareness. Each of these works with individuals and groups.

1. Make a date with yourself

Artist dates, another exercise created by Julia Cameron, are a fun way to explore your creative side. Once per week, think of one thing that would be fun to learn or explore. For example, be a tourist in your own town. What can you discover that you did not already know? Decide to search for a specific shape while going for a walk.

There are countless ways you could experience artist dates. Your expeditions are bound to spark your imagination. They also might help you better connect with your creative self. Who are you when you are at your most creative? Are you more playful?

To adapt the example to a small group setting, invite the group to each choose one thing for which they will search. Then head outside. Allow up to 15 minutes for the exploration. When everyone returns, group members can journal about their experience. The facilitator can also invite group members to share their experiences.

2. The Johari Window

Counselor Carl explains the concept behind the Johari Window beautifully in the video below. The task is a combined self and other assessment. The insights you gain help you become more self-aware. If you want to explore the approach, visit Kevan.org .

From the site, you will see a list of adjectives. You identify five to six words that describe you and then share a link with others. When your friends and colleagues give you feedback, they can do so anonymously. You do not need to sign up for anything.

3. Paradigm shift

You will need large colored images or advertisements for this exercise. From your pile, choose one picture. Cut the image into smaller pieces so that you cannot determine what it was before. Create a new design and give it a title. If you are doing this with someone else, explain what the new image is and what it was originally. When finished, consider these questions:

How did it feel to convert one image to another?
How difficult was it to “let go” of the first picture?
What is necessary to “let go” of one thing so that something new can take its place?
When have you successfully done this or seen it done in the past?

4. Who are these people?

Sometimes it can be challenging to shift our thinking. We get comfortable with where we are and who we have become. Besides, change can be scary and hard. In this exercise, you must decipher a list of 10 anagrams. For example:

A COIN STUD

When you finish, reflect on these questions,

What prevented you from seeing the answers?
What helped you solve the anagrams?
What ideas or beliefs do you hold that serve as restrictions or constraints?

5. Mind over body

Do you believe that what we think affects how our body responds? For this exercise, you will need a partner. Ask your friend to stand in front of you, eyes closed, and call to mind a positive experience.

When they are ready, instruct them to nod. Ask your partner to raise their dominant arm shoulder height and make a fist. Their arm should be parallel to the floor and in front of them. Tell your partner to state their name as you attempt to push their arm down. Now, it is your turn.

Follow the same procedure as before, but this time, you will recall an unpleasant memory. When your partner instructs you to raise your arm, you will say a fictitious name instead of your own. Chances are your partner’s arm didn’t lower much, if at all, but yours did.

Think about this:

What is the typical impact on our bodies when we are happy and honest?
What is the typical impact on our body when we are feeling negative or untruthful?

6. Maori Intuitive Drawing Exercise

Maori Medicine Men of New Zealand used this as a way to help people assess their life. Done annually, usually on their birthday, the person explores their past, present, and future through drawing a picture.

Draw a large circle on a piece of paper, creating what the Maori would call a ‘sacred space’ for yourself on the page. On the back of the paper, write these words:

Snake Flower Butterfly Bird path Mountain Shelter Tree

Draw these eight symbols into your sacred space anywhere you like. Take as much time as you want. After you finish, add a dotted horizontal and vertical line to divide the paper into four quadrants. The explanation is lengthy. Look for it here . This is a wonderful activity to do every year.

7. Self-reflecting on Emotional Intelligence

This exercise, developed by Dr. Hugo Alberts, focuses on assisting you in assessing your ability to:

Understand your emotions
Understand others’ emotions
Regulate your emotions
Use your emotions to improve yourself

For each of the above areas, you appraise your current abilities and how you can strengthen them. Alberts includes several questions to prompt your reflection.

For example, if you are trying to understand your emotions better, ponder these:

How good am I at identifying how I am feeling?
How well do I know whether I am happy or not?
How well am I able to notice when I am angry, sad, bored, etc.?
How good am I at identifying emotional swings in myself?

After considering the list of questions, write your current analysis. Then, write about how you think you could strengthen your skills in that area. Each appraisal section averages six questions.

In a group setting, the facilitator can introduce this with an example. After discussing the example, group members work independently. Time constraints may not allow for the completion of each appraisal during a workshop.

There are a few ways to handle this:

If the group is meeting over a few days, this can be homework.
If the group is only meeting once, then the trainer can encourage completion at home.
If the group reconvenes, participants can share their insights in small groups. The facilitator also can invite large group sharing for those who are comfortable.

Sharing with others is optional and not part of the original activity. Alberts also provides a list of suggested readings. You can learn more about this tool and others in the Positive Psychology Toolkit© .

17 Exercises To Foster Self-Acceptance and Compassion

Help your clients develop a kinder, more accepting relationship with themselves using these 17 Self-Compassion Exercises [PDF] that promote self-care and self-compassion.

Created by Experts. 100% Science-based.

Self-awareness is one of the best ways to create a harmonious life. Like a muscle that atrophies without use, a lack of self-awareness can erode our relationships, not only with others but also ourselves.

Luckily, we do not have to allow that to happen. Exercises like meditation, journaling, and others that involve consistent reflection strengthen our self-awareness.

What will you do today to become more self-aware?

We hope you enjoyed reading this article. Don’t forget to download our three Self-Compassion Exercises for free .

Albert Ellis Institute. (n.d.). About. Retrieved from https://albertellis.org/about-albert-ellis-phd/about-aei/
American Psychological Association. (n.d.). Self-awareness theory . Retrieved from https://dictionary.apa.org/self-awareness-theory
Bem, D. J. (1972). Self-perception theory. In L. Berkowitz (Ed.), Advances in experimental psychology (vol. 6) (pp. 1–62). Academic Press.
Brownell, C. A., Zerwas, S., & Ramani, G. B. (2007). “So big”: The development of body self-awareness in toddlers. Child Development , 78 (5), 1426–1440.
Duval, S., & Wicklund, R. A. (1972). A theory of objective self-awareness. Academic Press.
Ertimur, B., & Lavoie, D. R. (2019). Calibrating the self: Building self-awareness and encouraging self-regulation in understanding consumer behavior. Marketing Education Review, 29 (2), 113–118.
Goleman, D. (2012). Emotional intelligence: Why it can matter more than IQ. Random House.
Hay Group. (2005, November). Emotional Competence Inventory (ECI) . McClelland Center for Research and Innovation. Retrieved from http://www.eiconsortium.org/pdf/ECI_2_0_Technical_Manual_v2.pdf
Heine, S. J., Takemoto, T., Moskalenko, S., Lasaleta, J. D., & Heinrich, J. (2008). Mirrors in the head: Cultural variation in objective self-awareness. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin , 34 (7), 879–887.
Huang, A. X., Hughes, T. L., Sutton, L. R., Lawrence, M., Chen, X., Ji, Z., & Zeleke, W. (2017). Understanding the self in individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD): A review of literature. Frontiers in Psychology , 8 .
Mlodinow, L. (2012). Subliminal: How your unconscious mind rules your behavior. Vintage.
Morin, A. (2011). Self‐awareness Part 1: Definition, measures, effects, functions, and antecedents. Social and Personality Psychology compass , 5 (10), 807–823.
Prentice-Dunn, S., & Rogers, R. W. (1982). Effects of public and private self-awareness on deindividuation and aggression. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 43 (3), 503–513.
Rochat, P. (2003). Five levels of self-awareness as they unfold early in life. Consciousness and Cognition, 12 (4), 717–731.
Shany-Ur, T., Lin, N., Rosen, H. J., Sollberger, M., Miller, B. L., & Rankin, K. P. (2014). Self-awareness in neurodegenerative disease relies on neural structures mediating reward-driven attention. Brain , 137 (8), 2368–2381.
Showry, M., & Manasa, K. V. L. (2014). Self-awareness-key to effective leadership. IUP Journal of Soft Skills , 8 (1), 15–26.
Silvia, P. J., & Duval, T. S. (2001). Objective self-awareness theory: Recent progress and enduring problems. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 5 (3), 230-241.
Silvia, P. J., & Phillips, A. G. (2013). Self-awareness without awareness? Implicit self-focused attention and behavioral self-regulation. Self Identity, 12 (2), 114-127.
Wicklund, R. A., & Duval, S. (1971). Opinion change and performance facilitation as a result of objective self-awareness. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 7 (3), 319–342.

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Thank you for the article. I believe this will go along way in the way I interact with others and how I preawnt the info to my target audience.

Judy Cunningham The TED talks were a great addition. It is helping me to look at what I do for a living and ask – is that all and maybe I need to rethink some things.

This is great! I work with teens coming out of jail and acclimating them back into high school. I teach Behavior Management and the way this stuff is presented keeps the kids engaged!

Excellent article with the right amount of background theory and practical application. I’m looking forward to trying some of the exercises myself and for my clients. Thank you!

Excellent article. I will use a lot of this with my team. Please keep publishing articles like this. We need more of this in the workplace from this perspective. Thank you!

Thank you for an interesting and well written article.

Thank you Kori, This a very insightful and factual article that covers the scope of Self-Awareness. As you explained, I also believe SA to be the foundation for any development, which can be used to build a framework on, of appropriate interventions, to maximize their impact. Happy days

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Self Awareness Essay

Self awareness essentially means having a keen awareness of oneself. Ironically, many people do not give enough importance to understanding their own selves. One way to be aware of oneself is by discussing with friends and family members. Those who want to start a self-health awareness essay can write one on the changes they have undergone in their life. It is essential to start with the person’s goals when writing this self awareness essay.

Importance of Self Awareness

BYJU’S self awareness essay is a great tool to help kids understand the importance of self awareness. Without it, there can be no self-confidence, leading to negative thoughts. People must be aware of their strengths and weaknesses. Health awareness is an essential factor in everyone’s life, and hence, engage them in writing essays on the topics of well-being.

Self awareness allows one to manage one’s emotions, thoughts, and behaviour. It can also help people form a more accurate perception of the world. Without self awareness, people are less likely to see things or problems that could negatively impact them.

Self awareness is essential because, time and time again, people learn that when they don’t take the time to understand themselves, they make bad decisions that can have negative consequences.

When you are self-aware, you are aware of your actions and how those actions affect others. This can be seen in a person’s facial expressions, tone of voice, and body language. By looking for signs of self awareness in someone else, it is easier to understand what that person might be feeling or thinking about. BYJU’S essay on self awareness aims to encourage students in their journey of self awareness by exploring what self-awareness is and how it can improve one’s life.

To conclude, it is always essential to be self-aware. It helps us understand ourselves better to make decisions that are good for our mental health. For more essays, poems and other kids learning activities, visit BYJU’S website.

Frequently Asked Questions on Self Awareness Essay

What is self awareness.

Self awareness is the ability to recognise one’s mental state, including thoughts, feelings, sensations, and intentions. In a sense, it can be viewed as knowledge of self or being aware of oneself. To be self-aware is to perform tasks with intention and awareness of consequences that are important for the performance of these tasks.

Why is it important to be self-aware?

Self awareness is critical because it helps you be aware of your thoughts and feelings. It helps you to make better decisions and avoid making mistakes. Furthermore, it aids you develop a sense of control over your life and protecting yourself from harmful people who might take advantage of you if you aren’t cautious.

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Self Awareness Essay Examples

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