How to Practice Self-Awareness

Understanding Self-Awareness

A common definition of self-awareness is one’s capability to notice and understand in what ways behaviors, thoughts, and feelings come up in response to the surrounding environment. From the beginning we experience our environment. We feel or think something and this gives us insights into how we are relating to the space we are in. Tuning into your internal state and being curious about those states is being self-aware. Becoming aware of yourself is about focusing on the reality of your behavior and not the story you tell yourself about yourself. Meaning self-awareness is about being honest with yourself. It is noticing an inner dialogue also called self-talk and messages we tell ourself. Noticing when your body sensations become known and felt. When an emotion is identified and explored. So, a lot of noticing and also labeling. Things such as values, goals, motivations can all be something a person analyzes to understand their self-awareness.

Listening to Your Body

Ask yourself in this moment how do I feel. Now how would you describe that feeling does it seem to be coming from a specific place on or in your body. Does it have a color, texture, or shape? Theses question are helpful ways to identify body response towards your space in the moment. Now ask yourself what is this sensation I have need. Asking yourself what you need in the moment is a way to gain understand and clarity around self-awareness. This may look like anything from “I need some water because my mouth is dry to, I need a hug and I am feeling upset.” This could look like I feeling tired today and need to go slow for the day or taking nap. Checking in with your body helps to have a responsive relationship with yourself. Understanding your response is not something all of us were raised to do. Even though this may be true you can begin your journey today.

Exploring Your Thoughts

Ask yourself what thoughts am I having write now possibly write them down and think about the thought. Where did this thought come from? Do you need to attend to this thought? Do you believe the thought? Does the thought make me feel a certain way? These questions are ways to explore what type of thought patterns you have. What is this thought communicating to the rest of my body? Is the thoughts seem negative or positive or something else? Identifying this could be a helpful way to gain a deeper understanding of yourself and the way you think about your experiences. This could sound like, I made a mistake at work the other day, I am so stupid! This negative self-talk is not helpful for a health relationship with yourself. It could sound like I made a mistake at work today and that’s ok, I am allowed to make mistake, I also do a great job most of the time, I do not have to be perfect. Being able to understand that negative self-talk happens and you can question the thought to see if you believe it. And spoiler alert you do not have to believe every thought that pops in your head and every thought does not need an action tied to it as well. Then you can reframe it and give yourself a more positive thought by checking the facts of the thought. Becoming aware of the way your thoughts sound and feel in your body is a part of the self-awareness journey.

Responding with Awareness

Responding from your feelings and thoughts is a life journey and can change the more you become aware of yourself/actions. Research tells us that the human experience can be difficult and we can have control over our outward responses. Let say someone has made you feel sad for some reason, you “get back at them” by yelling at the top of your lungs and slamming the door. Well, your body just told you I am upset right now and I feel hurt or frustrated or something else. Maybe you did not notice your face got red, your heart rate started racing, your thoughts were going fast and then you responded. Having a different response towards those feelings, sensations, and thoughts is a part of being self-aware. Understanding those response and working towards slowing down is a part of human growth. Some times it may seem like the moments we have are automatic, so, it is understandable of a person has not asked them selves some of the question I posed here or proactive slowing down to understand what your body is telling…it takes time to learn to notice yourself, understand what your body is telling you, and respond differently. All of that takes time and practice and also it can be done, change can happen for anyone.

The First Step to Becoming Self-Aware

Right now, wherever you are, take a moment and ask yourself one of the questions I wrote earlier. Possibly just ask yourself what am I feeling in this moment and where sir that located in or on my body. Notice yourself, take a deep breath in and let that breath out. Do this a couple of times and see what your experience is like. With out any judgement to the response, what did you experience in that moment. Now you have just begun becoming more self-aware. Our bodies are always communicating with us..what is your telling you?