3 Tips for Self-Awareness
There are endless opinions for every side with the many heated events happening in the world. For some a healthy debate is easy and for others it can spark rage, leading to insults that had nothing to do with the original subject. Even though it’s possible that two people can respect differing opinions and have a healthy discussion, many can seem to lack the self-awareness it takes. Just about anyone can gain from becoming more self-aware, but how?
What is self-awareness?
It’s the ability to see one’s self clearly and objectively through reflection and introspection, or an awareness of one’s own personality or individuality. In addition, it is integral to happiness and mental health. Typically those who are more self-aware are more effective leaders. This is because they are more aware of themselves and better at understanding others. Additionally, self-awareness increases empathy and allows them to see how others perceive them.
Self-awareness tips
- Keep a journal
- Writing in a journal connects a person with what they value and their goals. It also helps to write about what a person is grateful for, events of day or even perceptions of the world. Keeping a journal helps people process day-to-day life, from things to work on to a person’s strengths.
- Get different perspectives and ask for feedback
- Everyone can get stuck in the same thinking patterns. Understanding and asking for different perspectives allows people to see things that they might ignore or not realize about themselves. Everyone has blind spots in their logic and biases and by asking for other perspectives, they can minimize these.
- Practice mindfulness
- The most common form of practicing mindfulness is meditation, which focuses on breathing patterns. The idea is that the more a person practices and pays attention, the more present they will be. This typically results in a better understanding of one’s self, the decisions made and how they affect others around them.
Self-awareness and Mental Health
Self-awareness can greatly help people in mental health treatment and recovery. For patients, self-awareness can help them realize trends in how they are feeling, what is helping them on their road to recovery and what might be harming their recovery process. For therapists, understanding their own beliefs and potential biases helps them make sure that they are providing the highest quality of treatment.
At its core, self-awareness offers everyone more than another strong tool for happiness. It helps people discover and impact how they want to; from within their homes and relationships to their careers. However, being self-aware isn’t something achieved once and then a person is done. In other words, every moment is an opportunity and it is a continual effort. So the good news is that the more you practice it, the easier it becomes.
What if that’s not enough?
Lifeline Connections is committed to long-term mental wellness for our patients. We offer an integrated, holistic approach that includes therapy and case management. Our doctors specialize in the treatment of co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders, working to solve ones that have a compounding effect. Contact us and reclaim your life.
Contact a doctor for a referral or find a therapist. They can work to design a custom plan for wellness. Secure treatment is over the phone or computer with telehealth, providing coping skills for grief, loss, depression and anxiety. They will work with you one-on-one to get you feeling better.
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