Tips for Better Self-Awareness
Better self-awareness can help happiness and self-esteem
During times of heightened emotions, a healthy debate can spark rage, leading to insults that have nothing to do with the original subject. Although it is possible for two people with differing opinions to have a healthy discussion, but it can take quite a bit of self-awareness. What exactly is it and how can people become more self-aware?
What is self-awareness?
It’s the ability to see oneself 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 with that awareness, they can better understand others. Additionally, self-awareness increases empathy, allowing another individual to see how a subject can make someone feel from various points or opinions.
Tips for better self-awareness
- 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 the 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. 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 oneself, 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 see trends in how they feel, 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 they’re 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, 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. Contact us and begin to reclaim the life you want.
Contact a doctor for a referral or find a therapist. They can work to design a custom plan for wellness. Secure treatment is also available 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.
Source:
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-awareness
