How Self Aware Are You Really?

How Self Aware Are You Really?

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How self aware are you?

Did you know that 95% of people believe that they are self aware?

The reality however according to research is that only 10-12% of people are actually self aware!

This shows that we like to believe that we know and understand ourselves really well but the truth is that we don’t.

What is self awareness?

So what is self awareness and how much evidence do you have to prove that you are self aware?

If you’re self-aware, you always know how you feel, and you know how your emotions and your actions can affect the people around you. Being self-aware also means having a clear picture of your strengths and weaknesses, and it means behaving with humility.

Recognising and understanding your own strengths and weaknesses, your emotions and moods, and the effects these things have on other people. A self-aware person is not easily offended by criticism but rather learns and adapts.

We would all love to think that this is true of us but how much proof do you have? Do you ALWAYS know how you feel? Or do you brush off positive feelings or try to ignore negative ones? Do you listen to and act upon your thoughts and emotions? Or busy yourself with life and hope that it impacts your emotions in a positive way? Do you have control over your thoughts and emotions? Or do they just up and surprise you and you not really understand why you feel that way?

5 steps to improving self awareness.

ANYONE can learn to be more self aware. Like any new skill, it is something you have to work on and practise but it can be done!

Why would you want to be more self aware? Well, because, when you are self aware you are more likely to take control of your own thoughts and emotions. You are better able to understand and help others with their emotions. You can be more caring and empathetic. You can feel more in control of your life and be more motivated!

So here are some tips to help you to be more self aware.

1. Take time to reflect on your own thoughts and emotions.

Ask yourself if your thought is helpful or unhelpful.

What feelings are your thoughts creating?

Is your thought logical and true?

What can you think instead that would be more helpful?

2. See things from a different perspective.

Your brain will always assume that it is right. It very rarely questions itself or the way it sees things.

This doesn’t mean that it is right though.

For example… just because you believe something is scary or boring doesn’t mean that it is. It’s just the way you perceive things.

So look at it from a different perspective.

How would someone else with a different opinion to yours think and feel?

3. Be observant.

Of yourself.

Of your emotions.

Of your body (where are you holding tension? What is your body saying to others?)

Of your tone of voice.

Of what your inner voice is saying.

4. Don’t get offended.

Again, try to look at things from the other person’s perspective. What are they seeing or hearing that you are not?

Ask yourself what you can learn from what they are saying and make positive changes.

Don’t brood over what they said or what you think they meant. It’s pointless. It makes you feel bad and does it really matter anyway?

5. Build your own self esteem.

All too often we rely on things outside of ourselves to make us feel good (or bad).

Things like money, material things, how successful we are, what others think of us, what other people say about us.

However, if you determine and build your own self esteem REGARDLESS of those things, you will be a much happier and more content person.

So be your own best friend. Make sure your inner voice is a nice one when it’s talking about you. Take pleasure in the simple things and take pride in the mundane.

Self awareness is one of the cornerstones to overcoming anxiety for good and one of the first skills I work on with my cilents. Once you are aware of your thoughts, feelings and behaviours, it gives you the ability to do something about them. Taking control is what my clients notice from the first session and is such an empowering thing to realise!