Self-awareness

A Venn diagram showing the relationship between self-concept, self-efficacy, and self-esteem.

Self-awareness is conscious knowledge of one's own character, personality, feelings, motives, and desires. Know thyself is an ancient and well-accepted philosophical maxim which was inscribed upon the Temple of Apollo in the ancient Greek precinct of Delphi.

Self-awareness is vital as it allows for: better decision-making; improved emotional intelligence; enhanced confidence; and fosters greater empathy and compassion. This ultimately leads to personal development and stronger relationships.

95% believe of individuals believe they are self-aware, but according to tests, only 15% of individuals are genuinely aware of themselves.

Resources on the importance of self-awareness:

• The Benefits of Self-Awareness, Humber River Health
• Exploring the Significance of Self-Awareness
• The Key Role Of Self Awareness In Emotional Intelligence

Source: Why is self-awareness important?

Increasing self-awareness

See also: Journaling and Mentor and Friendship and Accountability partner and Performance goal and Results orientation and Mindfulness (Psychology) and Evidence-based thinking and Values and Virtue and Observation skills

To increase self-awareness, you can practice mindfulness meditation (See also: Christian meditative prayer), regularly journal your thoughts and feelings, actively seek feedback from trusted individuals (See: Accountability partner), reflect on your experiences, identify your core values, and pay close attention to your emotions and reactions in different situations. In summary, make a conscious effort to observe yourself objectively and understand your internal processes better.

Source: How to increase self-awareness

Articles:

Psychology oriented websites:

• What Is Self-Awareness? (+5 Ways to Be More Self-Aware) by Courtney E. Ackerman, MA.
• How to Boost Your Self-Awareness by Kendra Cherry, MSEd
• How to Be More Self-Aware and Why It’s Important, PsychCentral.com
• How to Be More Self-Aware and Why It’s Important, PsychCentral
• 9 Tips to Help You Kick Off Your Self-Discovery Journey, Healthline.com
• Developing Self-awareness
• 26 Questions To Help You Know Yourself Better, PsychCentral
• How to Know Yourself Better, PsychCentral

Business-oriented websites and other websites:

• How to Improve Self-Awareness (With Steps and Tips), Indeed
• 10 strategies to improve self-awareness
• 8 Tips To Improve Your Self-Awareness
• Self-awareness activities to transform your life and career by Sami Ramirez, MSc, PCC
• 6 ways to improve self-awareness
• 5 Ways to Become More Self-Aware, Harvard Business Review
• 8 Steps To Improve Your Self-Awareness (With Tips)
• 10 ways to improve self awareness, The Tribune (India)

Videos:

• How to increase self-awareness - video playlist, video playlist

Journaling and improvement of self-awareness

See also: Diary

Journaling improves self-distancing, self-awareness and mindfulness. Self-distancing is one's ability to reflect on past events/emotions as an objective observer. This improves one's ability to break away from a nonstop cycle of obsessive thinking and brooding.

Journal articles

• Self-awareness buffers the consequences of negative feedback: Evidence from an ERP study, International Journal of Psychophysiology. 2021 Jun:164:9-16. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2021.02.004. Epub 2021 Feb 5.
• Ashley, Greg; Reiter-Palmon, Roni (1 September 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. doi:10.21818/001c.17902. https://digitalcommons.unomaha.edu/psychfacpub/7/. 

Quotes

• "It is said that if you know your enemies and know yourself, you will not be imperiled in a hundred battles; if you do not know your enemies but do know yourself, you will win one and lose one; if you do not know your enemies nor yourself, you will be imperiled in every single battle." - Sun Tzu

• “Above all, don't lie to yourself. The man who lies to himself and listens to his own lie comes to a point that he cannot distinguish the truth within him, or around him, and so loses all respect for himself and for others. And having no respect he ceases to love.” - Fyodor Dostoevsky, The Brothers Karamazov

See also

• Identity (psychology)
• Self-control
• Self-regulation
• Agency (psychology)
• Mindfulness (Psychology)
• Metacognition
• Self-doubt

Other related concepts:

• Hubris
• Pride